- Matchup: New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays
- Scheduled Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
- Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
- Broadcast: MLB.TV
- Betting Odds: New York (-160) Tampa Bay (+132)
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
On Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Rays (52-36) aim to conquer the New York Yankees (50-40) at Tropicana Field. The moneyline for this matchup shows New York at -160 while Tampa Bay is listed at +132. The total runs over/under sits at 8. Expected starting pitchers are Gerrit Cole and Shane McClanahan.
The Yankees possess a slugging percentage of .419 and have been struck out 807 times while drawing 352 walks. This season, they have racked up 411 RBIs and 694 hits, boasting a batting average of .233. As a team, the Yankees have achieved 134 doubles and hit 131 home runs, accumulating 432 runs and an on-base percentage of .316. New York averages 4.8 runs per game, positioning them 10th in the league.
The Yankees currently have an impressive earned run average of 3.37 this season (2nd in MLB), with their pitching staff striking out 788 batters. Thus far, Yankees pitchers have allowed 87 home runs and given up 350 total runs (5th in the league). They have walked 272 batters and their FIP stands at 3.71. New York has conceded 680 hits (averaging 7.7 hits per 9 innings) and recorded 299 earned runs, holding a K/BB ratio of 2.90 and a WHIP of 1.19.
The Yankees’ bullpen boasts a save rate of 61.8%, having entered 78 save situations, achieving 21 saves while failing in 13 of 34 attempts. This season, relief pitchers have inherited 151 base runners, with 26.5% crossing home plate. Yankees relievers have appeared in high-leverage situations 97 times this year. New York has utilized 295 relief pitchers so far, with 43 holds (21st in MLB).
The Yankees have transitioned 70.9% of balls in play into outs over 7,197 innings of play, ranking 8th in MLB. With 2,399 putouts, 787 assists, and 53 errors, their fielding percentage is .984 (20th in MLB) with 61 double plays turned this year.
Gerrit Cole has pitched a total of 1,996 innings, recording 2,292 strikeouts throughout his career. He holds a career win-loss record of 156-83, a FIP of 3.15, and has faced 8,041 hitters in the majors. Cole’s ERA stands at 3.20 (allowing 709 ERs) with a WHIP of 1.091. He has yielded 1,668 hits (7.5 hits per 9 innings) and issued 510 walks.
The Tampa Bay Rays currently maintain a .335 on-base percentage and a .258 batting average. They’ve struck out 631 times (30th in the league) while accumulating 755 hits, along with 84 home runs and 378 RBIs this season. Their slugging percentage is .394, and they average 4.51 runs per game (16th in MLB), with 122 doubles, 316 walks, and 397 runs scored.
The Rays’ pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.171 and a FIP of 4.18 for the season. With a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 8.10 (703 strikeouts to 238 walks), they rank 5th in total hits allowed (681). The staff has allowed 111 home runs and concedes 4.20 runs per 9 innings (9th in the league). Tampa Bay’s collective ERA stands at 3.76, having surrendered 366 runs this season, of which 328 are earned.
Boasting a save percentage of 72.9%, they have used 278 bullpen pitchers this year. The bullpen has entered the field in 89 high-leverage situations and 72 times with runners on base. With 114 total save situations, the Rays have achieved 66 holds and recorded 13 blown saves. Their bullpen pitchers have converted 35 saves out of 48 save opportunities, allowing 25.2% of inherited runners to score from 103 inherited runners.
Across 7,065 innings on the diamond, the Rays hold a defensive efficiency of 72.1% (2nd in MLB). They have committed 53 errors while achieving 711 assists and 2,355 putouts this season, with a fielding percentage of .983 (23rd in the majors) and 57 double plays turned.
Shane McClanahan, throughout his professional baseball journey, has given up 396 hits while accumulating 533 strikeouts in 483 innings pitched. McClanahan has a career record of 40-21, with an earned run average of 3.03, allowing 7.4 hits per nine innings. He has surrendered 163 earned runs, carrying a WHIP of 1.117 and a FIP of 3.0. McClanahan has faced 1,959 opposing hitters throughout his career.
Who will come out on top in tonight’s MLB battle against the spread or moneyline?
Prediction: Take Tampa Bay (+132)
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
