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Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
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We're going to see three pitchers tonight doing something they've never done before. Neither Gerrit Cole, Tyler Glasnow or Blake Snell (who will pitch at some point) have thrown on such little rest as starters. I don't know how long any of them will last, or how effective they'll be. What I do know is that the Over is 3-1 in the first four games of the series, and the offenses have been ahead of the pitcher's the whole time. Even on full rest.
In six playoff games thus far for the Yankees, Thursday’s was the first to go Under the total. On Friday, in a win-or-go-home scenario, expect a duplicate pitching performance from both staffs. Expect Gerrit Cole to be ready for the moment, and the Rays staff to answer as well. Grab the Under.
Gerrit Cole is 7-3 with a 2.84 ERA this season and he has a career 2.60 ERA in the playoffs, but he has allowed six runs in 11.2 IP against the Rays this season. He allowed three runs in six innings in Game 1 and this will be his first time pitching on short rest in the Major Leagues. Tyler Glasnow is starting after allowing four runs in five innings in Game 2. He faced the Yankees three times this season and improved each time he faced them, starting with a 2.2 IP, four run performance but ending with a six inning, scoreless performance. He has also never made a start on short rest in his career. This game is all hands-on deck and Glasnow struggled in Game 2.
I get why the Yankees are solid favorites because oddsmakers see Gerrit Cole on the mound. However, he has NEVER pitched on three days of rest in his big-league career and the Rays have had success against him this year. Yes, Tampa is starting Tyler Glasnow on just two days of rest, but he will simply act as an opener (to get past Giancarlo Stanton) and then the Rays turn it over to their much superior bullpen. Getting +1.5 runs at a price of -125 is stealing -- also consider the Rays are the "home" team. Take Tampa on the runline.