Rogers' 10* AL Total MASSACRE - Off 3-0 Wednesday! 25-12-1 Run!
(MLB) Tampa Bay vs. NY Yankees, 09/08/2016 3:05 PM, Score: 4 - 5
Total: 8.50 | -118.00 Over
Result: Loss
The set-up: The New York Yankees were swept in a three-game series at Tampa Bay in late July. Having already traded Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs, that sweep convinced GM Brian Cashman to go into sell mode and trade off three other veterans and go with younger players. The teams met again in mid-August and on August 12, Alex Rodriguez had an RBI double in his last game for the Yankees. A-Rod's exit came a week after Gary Sanchez was promoted and a day before Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin joined the team, as each player homered in their first at-bats. Now, as the Yankees and Rays open a four-game series at Yankees Stadium, New York has remained in the race for both the division and wild-card. The Yankees are 4 1/2 games out of first place and 2 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the final wild card spot. Meanwhile, The 59-79 Rays own a better AL record than only the Twins and the team's moneyline mark of minus-$2536 ranks 29th among 30 MLB teams (again, Minnesota is the only team worse).

The pitching matchup: Alex Cobb (0-0, 3.60 ERA) makes his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery for the Rays and veteran C.C. Sabathia (8-12, 4.20 ERA) takes the mound for the Yankees. Cobb's first outing went well as he retired the final 10 hitters in his five-inning outing against Toronto while allowing two runs and four hits. "I was happy in the fact that I felt back to competitive nature on the mound," Cobb said. "It wasn't being cautious, wasn't thinking about my mechanics or injury possibilities. I was just out there, wanting to get outs and I felt the groove of the game again." Sabathia has had a poor season but has pitched well in recent outings, owning a 2.29 ERA in his last three starts plus has allowed three runs or less in five of his last six outings.

The pick: Cobb's last start in New York was back on September 11, 2014 but he owns a 1.93 ERA in 10 career starts against the Yankees. Sabathia is 14-14 with a 3.79 ERA in 40 all-time starts vs. Tampa Bay (teams are 20-20) but as a Yankee he is 7-13 with a 4.35 ERA in 29 games against the Rays. That doesn't bode well but his current form is good (see above) and the Yankees have won four in a row and 10 of their last 14 games. Cobb's a quality and pitcher and looked very good in his first start back and I see a low scoring contest. The under is a 10* play.