- Matchup: New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays
- Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026
- Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
- Broadcast: MLB.TV
- Betting Odds: New York (-128) Tampa Bay (+106)
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Tropicana Field hosts an exciting clash as the Tampa Bay Rays (53-36) face off against the New York Yankees (50-41) this Thursday. The betting lines are favoring New York at -128, while Tampa Bay is positioned at +106. The game total is established at 9 runs. The starters for the match will be Elmer Rodriguez and Drew Rasmussen.
The Yankees boast a slugging percentage of .419 with 824 strikeouts and 352 walks this season. They’ve racked up 415 RBIs alongside 705 hits, yielding a team batting average of .234. This year, New York has recorded 135 doubles and hit 132 home runs, scoring 436 runs with an on-base percentage (OBP) of .316. The team averages 4.8 runs per game, positioning them 9th in MLB.
New York holds a team ERA of 3.40 (2nd in MLB) with pitchers striking out 794 batters. The Yankees have allowed 90 home runs and given up 356 runs (6th in MLB). Their walk count stands at 275, with a collective FIP of 3.75. New York has permitted 688 hits (averaging 7.7 per 9 innings) and has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.89, with a WHIP of 1.19.
The Yankees’ bullpen has faced batters on base on 101 occasions and has been involved in 97 critical situations this season. They have secured 43 holds (22nd in the league) with a save rate of 61.8%, completing 21 saves out of 34 opportunities but failing to convert 13 saves. This year, 151 runners were inherited by relievers, with 26.5% scoring. The Yankees have used 298 relief pitchers so far.
The defense has turned 70.9% of balls in play into outs during their 7,269 innings on the field, ranking 8th in MLB. The team has achieved 2,423 putouts, 796 assists, and 53 errors, giving them a fielding percentage of .984 (20th in the league). The Yankees have also registered 61 double plays.
Rodriguez, with a career record of 0-2, brings a FIP of 4.69 after facing 83 batters in the majors. He has allowed 19 hits (10.1 hits per nine innings) and issued 11 walks, resulting in an ERA of 4.76 (9 ERs) and a WHIP of 1.765, accumulating 17 innings and 10 strikeouts in his career.
The Rays have hit 87 home runs this season and collected 384 RBIs. They’ve recorded 123 doubles, drawn 319 walks, and scored 403 runs. Tampa Bay’s OBP stands at .334 with a batting average of .257 this season. Their slugging percentage is .396, averaging 4.53 runs per game (16th in the league). They have struck out 637 times (30th in MLB) and registered 763 hits.
The Tampa Bay pitching staff maintains a WHIP of 1.171 and a FIP of 4.15. They rank 5th in MLB regarding total hits allowed, with 692. This season, the Rays’ pitchers have allowed 370 runs and possess a 3.76 team ERA (332 earned runs). Their K/BB ratio is 8.20, showcasing 720 strikeouts against 238 walks. Tampa Bay has yielded 112 home runs, allowing 4.19 runs per 9 innings (9th in MLB).
The bullpen for Tampa Bay has an inherited score percentage of 25.0%, having come into play 91 times in high-stakes scenarios and 73 times with runners on board. With 118 save opportunities, they’ve achieved 69 holds and experienced 13 blown saves, ranking 5th with a save rate of 73.5%. This season, the Rays have utilized 282 relief pitchers.
Tampa Bay’s defense has turned 57 double plays and established a fielding percentage of .983 (22nd in MLB). The team has tallied 715 assists, 54 errors, and 2,382 putouts through 7,146 innings, achieving a defensive efficiency rating of 71.9% (2nd in MLB).
In his professional career, Rasmussen has allowed 442 hits while striking out 524 batters in 557 innings pitched. With a career record of 37-21, he holds a 2.88 ERA and permits 7.1 hits per nine innings. Having allowed 178 earned runs, Rasmussen’s WHIP is 1.037, and his FIP stands at 2.8. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is 3.85, having faced 2,218 batters throughout his career.
Which team will prevail in tonight’s MLB game against the spread or moneyline?
Prediction: Back New York (-128)
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