Free MLB Picks Today: Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees 9/2/22

The New York Yankees (79-52) take one of the highest-scoring offenses in MLB on the road to face the Tampa Bay Rays (72-57) at Tropicana Field on Friday for the opener of a three-game series. The Yankees are kicking off the final series of their 10-game road trip. They won only one out of three in their last series against the Angels, dropping the finale 3-2 on Wednesday at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Josh Donaldson was 1 for 4 with a double and one run. The Rays are playing the first of six games at home. They are coming off a two-game sweep of the Marlins, taking the finale 2-1 on Wednesday at loanDepot park for their third straight win. Yandy Diaz went 3 for 3 with a double and one run. Harold Ramirez went 3 for 5 with a double and one RBI.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Yankees have won eight of 13 in the season series between the AL East rivals, including an 8-7 victory in 10 innings in their most recent meeting on August 17 at Yankee Stadium. Reliever Aroldis Chapman was credited with the win after throwing 0.2 innings.

ON THE MOUND

Domingo German (2-2, 3.19 ERA) is slated to start for New York. The RHP threw 7.2 scoreless innings in his last start, a 3-2 road defeat against the Athletics on Saturday. He scattered three hits while striking out five in the no-decision. German has made one previous start against the Rays this season, an 8-7 home victory on August 17. He surrendered three runs on five hits over 4.2 innings, striking out six and walking one.

AT THE PLATE

The New York offense is averaging 5.0 runs per game for the season, second best in the league, with a slash line of .240/.324/.427. Aaron Judge leads the team in OPS at 1.064. The right fielder is slashing .297/.398/.667 with 51 home runs, 113 RBIs, and 104 runs over 127 games. Over the last five games, though, New York has averaged only 3.0 runs a game while performing worse across the board (.144/.226/.263). Tampa Bay is slashing .241/.310/.384 for the season and averaging 4.3 runs per game. Diaz leads the team with ann .805 OPS. The third baseman has eight home runs, 48 RBIs, and 63 runs scored with a slash line of .283/.389/.416. Tampa Bay is averaging 6.0 runs per game in the last five with a better slash line (.298/.347/.484). The Rays have a .692 OPS against right-handers in 2022. With ann .812 OPS over 302 at-bats, David Peralta has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

New York is 34-32 away from Yankee Stadium in 2022, scoring 5.0 runs per game while allowing 3.7 runs. Tampa Bay has won six in a row at their home park. The Rays are 42-23 at home this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game while surrendering 3.5. In the last 10 games between the teams at Tropicana Field, New York is 6-4 despite an average scoreline favoring Tampa Bay (3.8-3.2).