Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA

New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays: An AL East matchup

The Tampa Bay Rays are looking to end their losing streak tonight when they host the New York Yankees at the Tropicana Field.

The Yankees are going through a difficult period

The New York Yankees are second in the AL East with a 55-37 record, including 30-18 on the road. They have lost five of the last six games and after being swept to the Cincinnati Reds, they lost two out of three against the Boston Celtics, including a 3-0 loss in the last one. The Yankees have a 3.61 ERA, a .222 batting average, a .304 on-base percentage, and 1.20 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Aaron Judge leads the team with 100 hits, 70 runs and 32 home runs.

The Rays are coming back home

The Tampa Bay Rays are fourth in the AL East with a 44-46 record and 23-25 at home. They have lost the last three games against the Texas Rangers on the road. Tampa Bay has a 4.37 ERA, a .245 batting average, a .310 on-base percentage, and 1.27 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Yandy Diaz leads the team with 96 hits, Jose Caballero is on top with 38 runs, and Isaac Paredes has 14 home runs.

Betting Trends

The Rays are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games overall, 5-2 SU in their last 7 home games and 2-5 SU in their last 7 games against teams from the AL. The Rays have played under the total run line in 5 of their last 7 games overall and 13 of the last 19 games played in July and have gone over in 13 of their last 20 games against the Yankees and 5 of their last 7 home games against the Yankees. The Yankees are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games overall, 4-2 SU in their last 6 games against the Rays, 4-8 SU in their last 12 games against teams from the AL and 4-8 SU in their last 12 games against teams from the AL East. New York has played over the total run line in 13 of their last 17 games overall and in their last five games on the road.

Prediction and Conclusion

The Yankees were on top of the American League for most of the season but after losing 7 of the last 10 games are three games behind the Baltimore Orioles. Their confidence is not on the demanded level after losing a home series to the Boston Red Sox, but the Yankees have everything they need to bounce back. They won the series in Tampa by 2-1 in May and will start this one with a win. Marcus Stroman will be the Yankees starting pitcher who is 7-4 for the season, with a 3.58 ERA, 76 K, 100.2 IP and 1.29 WHIP. The Rays will start with Zach Eflin who is 5-5 for the season, with a 4.19 ERA, 72 K, 92.1 IP and 1.15 WHIP.