New York Yankees-Tampa Bay Rays Preview: Betting Odds and Predictions

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees o/u 9.0 (-120). Friday, June 5, 7:05 p.m.
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CC Sabathia is starting to live up to his fat (no pun intended) contract for the New York Yankees, while David Price is handling his transition to a starting pitcher well, so look "Under" in the Bronx Friday evening.

After a slow start with his new team, Sabathia is again up to his old habits, reeling off five consecutive quality starts. Perhaps just as importantly, he has been a workhorse, pitching at least seven innings in those five starts, which takes the shaky Yankees' middle relief out of the equation here. He has been brilliant against the Rays, tossing seven-straight quality starts against them.

Price was a vital member of bullpen during the amazing Rays World Series run last season, even picking up a few saves. He has always been groomed to be a starter however, and after going just 3 1/3 innings in his first starts this season due to a high pitch count caused by six strikeouts and five walks (he still allowed only two runs and four hits), he was stretched out a bit against the Minnesota Twins last Saturday.

Price went 5 2/3 innings that day, allowing only one run and five hits with an impressive 11 strikeouts. Sure, he will probably not go beyond six innings until he is stretched out fully, but that is not necessarily a bad thing as the Tampa Bay bullpen ranks fourth in the American League with a 3.97 ERA.

Given that Sabathia should eat up enough innings to nullify the biggest threat to this Under—the New York long relief—Under looks like the play tonight.

MLB Free Pick: Rays, Yankees Under 9 (-120)