MLB Baseball
2026-07-06 - New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Monday 6th July 2026 - Scheduled 6:40pm EST
11:40pm (British Time)
Preview
The last few weeks has seen the top two in the American League East travelling in very different directions and the leadership of the Division has changed hands again. The All Star Break cannot come soon enough for the injury hit New York Yankees (49-40) if only to bring back some key names and perhaps reset having struggled as much as they have in recent outings.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, a four game set with the Tampa Bay Rays (52-35) begins on Monday and they are already 4 games behind the Rays in the American League East standings. Closing that gap may not be possible through this series, but the Yankees will be desperate to prevent that number increasing and so there is real pressure on the team.
While the losses have been piling up for the Yankees, the Tampa Bay Rays had won nine in a row before losing twice to the Houston Astros this past weekend. The Rays had also beaten New York four times in a row before losing the most recent meeting between the rivals, but there is little doubt that Tampa Bay are playing with more confidence.
The Rays will give the ball to Griffin Jax who has a 4-5 record and 3.45 ERA in twenty-three appearances in 2026, although only twelve of those have been in starts. Credit has to be given to Jax for performing at a level where he has retained his spot in the starting rotation considering he had only ever made eighteen starts in the Major Leagues in his first five seasons at this level.
Griffin Jax is making his thirteenth start in a row for the Rays and he has a 3-3 record and 2.65 ERA in that run.
Most importantly for the pitcher and the team, Griffin Jax is not operating as an opener, but he has been able to chew through the Innings in June and that will give everyone a lift. This will be the first time he is starting against the New York Yankees, although Griffin Jax has plenty of experience against them out of the bullpen.
New York will counter by handing the ball to Cam Schlittler who has an 8-5 record and 2.08 ERA in eighteen starts this season, but who has just hit a slight wall in level of performance. He is only a second year pitcher so some dip in a long season has to be expected, and Cam Schlittler has been tagged with back to back decision losses.
In his last start, Schlittler was roughed up for six runs by the Detroit Tigers and he did have to absorb the decision loss in half of the six starts made in June.
Cam Schlittler also took the decision loss when facing the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this season after allowing three runs in 5 Innings pitched and he is now 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA in three career starts against this Divisional rival.
Prediction
You always have to believe that Cam Schlittler will give the New York Yankees a chance to win games, but the batting lineup have been struggling during this slump in form.
Jazz Chisholm Jr could be missing on Monday to add to the long injury list that the Yankees are dealing with, while Griffin Jax has been pitching well enough to believe he can give the Tampa Bay Rays the edge in this opening game of a four game set.
The Pick :
Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 New York Yankees
