The top two teams in the AL East collide when the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays open a four-game series on Thursday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Yankees (31-13) enter the series with the best record in baseball and a 4.5-game lead over the second-place Rays (26-17) in the division.

New York is a -120 money-line favorite in the latest Yankees vs. Rays odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while Tampa Bay is a +100 underdog. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET. The game is one of 11 on the MLB schedule for Thursday. (See up-to-date lines for every game on our MLB odds page.)

Before making any MLB picks or parlays, be sure to see the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times and it is off to a strong start to the 2022 season. It's on a 41-30 roll on top-rated MLB money-line picks through seven weeks, returning almost $600 for $100 players. Anyone following it has seen HUGE returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on the MLB schedule for Thursday, May 26. Using its top picks for the day, the model has generated a four-leg parlay that would pay almost 21-1! The parlay doesn't start until 7:10 p.m. ET, giving you plenty of time to make your MLB picks.

We can tell you that one of the picks is the Guardians (+120) to beat the Tigers. But the model has three other picks, including a play on an even bigger underdog! You ABSOLUTELY need to see them before locking in any MLB picks of your own.

So which big underdog is a MUST-BACK? And what other teams do you need to include in your parlay for a payout of almost 21-1? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which picks you should be all over on Thursday, all from the model that is on a 41-30 roll on top-rated MLB moneyline picks through seven weeks!