It took only five days into October for the Pinstripes to enter must-win territory.
Rays ace Drew Rasmussen delivered a gem in their series opening win: 8.0 innings pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, and an impressive 10 strikeouts, which tied a Tampa Bay record.
The Yankees can ill-afford to return to the Bronx in a 0-2 hole.
Now they turn to Cam Schlittler, fresh off a stellar ten-strikeout performance against the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card round.
The likely Cy Young Award winner has a 1-1 record, a 2.77 ERA, and 16 strikeouts in 2 road starts against Tampa Bay this season.
Yankees vs. Rays props, prediction
Former Met Freddy Peralta gets the ball for the Rays, which is favorable for several Yankee bats, including Cody Bellinger.
Bellinger has been a big-game performer since his time in Los Angeles.
The outfielder boasts a .429 average with six hits, a home run, and 3 RBIs over 14 career at-bats vs. Peralta.
Schlittler on the mound should give the Bombers’ offense some breathing room after Rasmussen handcuffed their lineup in the opener.
In fact, multiple Bronx Bombers have taken Peralta deep before, including Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Anthony Volpe.
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With the baseball world zeroing in on Aaron Boone’s club, including legend Derek Jeter, I expect Bellinger to rise to the occasion and spark the Yankees.
The Yankees are a slight -130 moneyline favorite, and they are primed to earn a crucial road playoff win Monday to level things out in this best-of-five series behind Schlittler and timely batting.
The Play: SGP (+140, BetMGM) – Yankees moneyline (-130) + Cody Bellinger to record a hit (-190)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
