The Yankees have shown some life, winning seven of their last 10 games to pull within 2.5 games of the last wild card slot. The Rays have lost three straight and look to avoid the sweep. That'll be a daunting task with Gerrit Cole starting, even though the Yankees are only 10-10 with him on the mound. (Also, a Cole bettor is down 10.4 units.) They’ve also lost three of Cole’s last four starts against the Rays. This bet is mostly against Tampa Bay starter Luis Patino, who has allowed 15 runs over his last three starts. Yankees to win.

No one likes Tropicana Field, it's a dang mausoleum, but Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole apparently enjoys it there with a career 1.82 ERA in four starts -- including eight brilliant shutout innings May 12. No team strikes out more than the Rays, so he could have 14Ks this afternoon. Aaron Judge has been medically cleared and should be in the lineup -- he didn't start Wednesday waiting for test results but pinch-hit. Newly-acquired Joey Gallo surely will not debut quite yet with travel, etc. It's Luis Patino (1-2, 5.26) on the mound for Tampa, which has dropped its past three and remains without DH Nelson Cruz. I can't not take Cole at a price of just -130.