MLB betting matchups simply don’t get any bigger than this. The two best teams in baseball, the New York Yankees (65-36) and the Tampa Rays (63-38), will go head to head in the Big Juice Box on the on the last night in July to see which team is really the best team in the MLB odds action.
What makes this battle so interesting is not only that these teams have the best record in baseball but the fact that they both play in the same division, the absurdly talented AL East Yankees hold a slim 2.0 game lead). So aside from bragging rights and claims to the best record in the MLB betting action, this game and this series will have a major bearing on how the AL playoff picture shakes out.
For Game 2 of this monumental 3-game series the Rays will be sending one of their best to the mound, Matt Garza (11-5, 4.06 ERA). Garza has been one of the mainstays at the top of Rays rotation over the past few seasons and even though his ERA was getting a bit fat, he helped trim it up a bit by throwing the franchise’s first no-hitter in MLB betting history in his last start. It won’t be any picnic pitching against the Yankees stacked lineup in this MLB odds matchup but he should go into the game with as much momentum as possible.
The Yankees starting pitching has been fantastic this year and Javier Vazquez (9-7, 4.54 ERA) has been just one of a handful of NY starters that have been lights out. He got off to a rocky start but he’s been solid of late giving up just 7 runs in his past 4 starts and probably about as good a 5th starter as you’ll find in MLB betting.
Nonetheless the Rays have the advantage in the pitching matchup with Garza being, quite literally, unhittable of late. The Rays also have the home field advantage in this matchup and have some incredible momentum behind them.
Tampa will be coming off a sweep of the Detroit Tigers at home (the first time in franchise history) and have 6 straight games.
Look for Tampa to cut into the Yankees AL East lead with a win on Saturday.
