New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/21/2022

Time: 7:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Where to watch: YES, Bally Sports Sun

DraftKings: NL

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: NL

Yankees: 50-17

Rays: 36-31

It's hard to bet against the New York Yankees when Gerrit Cole is looking like Gerrit Cole. And yes, in fact, Gerrit Cole looked even more the part Monday in the Yankees' 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays and becoming the first team in the league this year to reach 50 wins.

Cole was spectacular against the Rays in the series opener, taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning before being pulled, but his teammates did more than enough to ensure they walked out of Tropicana Field with the win.

Cole went 7.1 innings, threw 111 pitches and struck out 12 in his second consecutive win, and the ace mowed down the Rays' lineup in what seemed like easy fashion. He gave up only one hit and was charged with an earned run. Tampa tied it in the eighth thanks to a Yandy Diaz fielder's choice groundout, and Manuel Margot on an infield single.

But Aaron Hicks came to the rescue with an RBI triple to give the Yankees back the lead, and Jose Trevino added to it with a sacrifice fly. So even with Cole not getting the win himself, he of course played a major part in that happening.

“For us to answer back like that just shows what this team’s about,” said Aaron Judge, who went 0 for 3 with a walk. “We don’t just live or die by the long ball. We’re just a good all-around team.”

The Yankees have been the best team in baseball all year, and now the first to 50 wins, that comes as no surprise. They're getting Cy Young pitching across the rotation -- including from their starter on Tuesday, Nestor Cortes -- and that stacked lineup has driven in runs at an astronomical rate. The Yankees won for the 17th time in 19 games and it's the best start since the 2001 Mariners.

“Any time you get to the eighth inning, you’re starting to smell it and it gets close. But once (the no-hitter) goes by the wayside and it’a tie game, it's right back to: ‘Let’s go find a way to get this thing done,’' Yankees manager Aaron Boone made. “Just a good resilient victory and a lot of good things that helped us get there.”

“I thought I had good stuff,” Cole said. “I’ve never thrown a no-hitter, so I can’t tell you what no-hit stuff looks like.”

The Rays' struggles continue at an alarming rate, and they are now going to be without Margot, who sprained his knee late in the game. Rays manager Kevin Cash expects him to miss "significant time." Kevin Kiermarier is also heading to the IL, but might not miss a lot of time due to an inflammation in the left hip.

It always feels like a blown opportunity when the Rays don't win a start from Shane McClanahan. The Tampa ace went six innings and allowed just one run on four hits, all while striking out eight. The young star's ERA is now down to 1.81.

“I think injuries are unfortunately a part of this game, but I don't think it's every day to this extent,” said McClanahan. “We've lost a lot of key guys. We're just going to have to keep doing what we've been doing, and that's coming to the field, putting our head down, trying to make the best of a bad situation.”

Cortes, one of the leaders right now for AL Cy Young with a 6-2 mark and 1.94 ERA, will be the confirmed starter for the Yankees on Tuesday. The Rays, at time of publishing, have not named a starter.

I think the Rays will find a way to eventually win a game in this series, but if they had a ridiculously tough time trying to get a hit of Cole, what makes anyone think Cortes will be any easier? McClanahan was their best chance to win, and the baseball gods were not on their side. Yankees win 6-4

The Yankees are 16-8 as a road favorite this season.

Yankees are 24-10 against division opponents this season.

Rays are 95-53 against division opponents the past three seasons.

Rays are 25-14 when McClanahan starts the past three seasons.

Yankees:
DJ LeMahieu (R) 1B
Aaron Judge (R) CF
Josh Donaldson (R) 3B
Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
Aaron Hicks (S) LF
Kyle Higashioka (R) C
Marwin Gonzalez (S) SS
Joey Gallo (L) RF
SP - Nestor Cortes

Rays:
Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF
Manuel Margot (R) RF
Yandy Diaz (R) 3B
Ji-Man Choi (L) DH
Randy Arozarena (R) LF
Harold Ramirez (R) 1B
Taylor Walls (S) SS
Isaac Paredes (R) 2B
Francisco Mejia (S) C
SP - TBD

Batting average: Aaron Judge -- .301

Home runs: Aaron Judge -- 25

RBI: Aaron Judge -- 50

Wins: Jameson Taillon -- 8

ERA: Nestor Cortes -- 1.94

Batting average: Yandy Diaz -- .269

Home runs: Kevin Kiermaier -- 7

RBI: Ji-Man Choi -- 34

Wins: Shane McClanahan -- 7

ERA: Shane McClanahan -- 1.81