MLB Preview and Free Play: Rays vs. Yankees
Tampa Bay Rays @ New York Yankees
9/20/2011 7:10pm EST
Line: Yankees -163
Total: 9
The Tampa Bay Rays are trying to do the unthinkable and finish one of the best comebacks in MLB history and beat out either the Red Sox or Yankees for an AL playoff spot. The Rays are only 2 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the AL Wild Card spot after an awful month of baseball by the Sox and a great month by the Rays, including Tampa taking 3 out of 4 in Boston just last weekend. However, if the Rays want to finish this comeback they are going to have to go into New York and win this series as well which I don’t think will be as easy.
Ivan Nova goes for the Yankees with his very impressive 15-4 record on the season and 7-2 home record. The good news for the Rays is that Nova tends to allow more runs at Yankees Stadium with an ERA of 4.42 at home, compared to his 3.76 ERA on the season. The Rays also score more runs on the road oddly enough, averaging 4.9 runs per game on the road. I like the Rays to get some runs off Nova and the Yankees tonight on the road but if they want to win this game it will have to come down to pitching and defense.
Wade Davis goes for the Rays against a Yankees lineup that averages 5.8 runs per game at home on the year! Davis has been shaky on the road on the season going 5-5 with a 5.40 ERA away from Tampa so far but is pitching much better in his last 3 overall starts with a 2-1 record and 3.68 ERA including a complete game win against the Red Sox, who have a great amount of firepower, just like the Yankees. If the Rays can get to Nova early and let Davis pitch with a lead, this should help but if Davis has to pitch scared or lets up a few early runs, get the bullpen ready early for Tampa.
FREE PLAY: I like the Rays tonight on the road because I feel like destiny is on their side to make a serious playoff push and give Boston and/or New York a run for their money. I like Davis to contain the Yankees lineup and the Rays to get to Nova for a couple and steal the first game here in New York in a huge series.
