The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Friday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. New York is coming off a series versus the Guardians. The Yankees managed wins in two of those three games. As for Tampa Bay, they played the Pirates this week. The Rays won the first pair, then in the Thursday finale Tampa Bay eked out a one-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
New York Yankees
The Yankees fell to the Guardians 3-2 in Monday’s game, but they bounced back for wins 4-2 Tuesday and 4-3 in the rubber match Wednesday. In the finale, New York starter Clarke Schmidt lasted 4.1 clean frames with six hits and two walks.
Jhony Brito will take the mound for the Yankees on Friday. Over his six starts this year Brito is 2-3 with a 5.56 ERA and 17 Ks in 22.2 innings. Brito is coming off a loss to Texas with 5.0 frames, two earned, four hits and a walk.
Tampa Bay Rays
Over on the Tampa Bay side, they took care of the Pirates 4-1 Tuesday and 8-1 in game two. In the Thursday finale the Rays out-hit the Pirates 5-4 in a 3-2 victory. Starter Zach Eflin finished with 7.0 clean innings, three hits, no walks and 10 strikeouts.
For Friday’s start, it’ll be Tampa Bay’s Yonny Chirinos. In his four games (zero starts) this year Chirinos is 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA and eight strikeouts in 14.0 innings. Chirinos is 16-10 with a 3.38 career ERA in 53 games (29 starts).
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’m going to stay with Tampa Bay. Brito has been reasonable over his last few outings, with six earned on 10 hits and seven walks in 12.0 combined innings. That said, the Yankees offense is going to have to step it up to compete in this one; New York has scored four runs or fewer in seven straight games, and two runs or fewer in four of those seven. As for Tampa Bay, on Thursday they didn’t have a ton of offense going, but it was just enough to supplement a good pitching effort from Eflin, Ryan Thompson and Jason Adam. If the Rays can keep it up on the mound they shouldn’t have much trouble taming the Yankees hitters.