The New York Yankees find themselves in a challenging position as they trail the Toronto Blue Jays by five games in the American League East, while barely holding onto the top wild card spot, just 3.5 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays. Both teams are set to face off in the Bronx on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET, a crucial matchup for their playoff aspirations.
The Yankees will look to ace Max Fried to regain his form after a recent stretch of tough outings. Fried, with an 11-4 record and a 2.62 ERA, is coming off a 4-2 loss to the Rays and has not delivered a quality start in his last four appearances, causing his ERA to rise from 1.92 to 2.62. The Rays will counter with Joe Boyle, who is making his first start since April 13, having only pitched in mid-relief roles this season.
In terms of betting insights, Fried’s strikeout prop is set at 5.5, while Boyle’s is at 4.5, with the SportsLine Projection Model favoring the Over on Boyle’s strikeouts. The odds indicate that Yankees players Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice are among the favorites for home runs in the matchup.
As for the consensus odds, the Yankees are listed as -192 favorites, while the Rays are +160 underdogs. The total for the game is set at 8.5, leaning towards the Over.
This upcoming game presents a pivotal opportunity for both teams to enhance their postseason standings, and with the Yankees heavily favored, it’s a chance for them to solidify their position in the playoff race. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the players take the field, hoping for an exciting showdown.