MLB Baseball
2025-08-19 - New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : MLB Baseball
Tuesday 19th August 2025 - Scheduled 7:35pm
12:35am (British Time)
Preview
There are plenty of signs to suggest the New York Yankees (67-57) are beginning to heat up again and the three game sweep of the St Louis Cardinals this past weekend has allowed them to move to 5 games behind the American League East leading Toronto Blue Jays. Keeping the momentum going is important and this series will also offer the Yankees a chance to perhaps dent a rival's hopes for good.
The Tampa Bay Rays (61-64) had made the Playoffs in five seasons in a row beginning in 2019 and they also reached a World Series in that time. However, the run was snapped last year and the Rays are trending towards a second season without a post-season appearance.
They continue to host home games at a Spring Training facility used by the New York Yankees following the damage done to Tropicana Field by Hurricane Milton in October last year and the familiarity has helped the Yankees when they have visited.
A four game series was hosted by the Rays against New York in April and it was the Yankees who won three of those.
The road team will give the ball to Carlos Rodon in the opener of this two game set and the pitcher will be confident having compiled a 12-7 record and 3.25 ERA in twenty-five starts this season. The improvements shown by an experienced campaigner can only be good news for the Yankees and Rodon is on course for his best season in the famous pinstripes.
Carlos Rodon has allowed just three runs in 12 Innings thrown across his last two starts, although he is 'only' 1-0 in those starts, despite the solid numbers put up.
Earlier this season, Rodon did not give up a run in 6 Innings spent on the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays and he earned the decision win to improve his career mark to 2-3 with a 4.00 ERA against them.
Tampa Bay will counter by handing the ball to Shane Baz who has a 8-9 record and 4.93 ERA in twenty-four starts made in 2025.
He had made a decent start to the year and was 8-3 with a 4.37 ERA at the end of June, but Shane Baz has really been having a hard time over the alst several weeks. The pitcher has not earned a decision win from any of the last eight starts, while the last seven have seen Shane Baz putting up a 0-6 record and 6.51 ERA.
In 16 Innings thrown in August, Shane Baz has allowed thirteen earned runs and been handed the decision loss twice.
Shane Baz only earned one out in the 4th Inning when withdrawn against the New York Yankees earlier this season and he allowed five runs in his time on the mound. However, the batting lineup came up trumps for Baz who did not factor into the decision on the day.
He is now 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA in five career starts against this American League East Divisional rival.
The Yankees have won seven of eleven games played against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Prediction
Momentum is with the New York Yankees and they can just keep the chase going with the Toronto Blue Jays by winning this game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The superior starting pitcher is wearing the Yankees uniform and the New York batting lineup are heating up again, which could be key as the play in familiar surroundings.
The Pick :
Tampa Bay Rays 2-6 New York Yankees
