Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees Prediction, 5/2/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees

Date: Friday, May 2, 2025

Location: Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY

TV: YES

Odds/Point Spread: Tampa Bay (+126) New York (-152)

Yankee Stadium is where the New York Yankees (18-13) will attempt to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays (14-16) on Friday. The line on this matchup has the Rays at +126 while the Yankees are at -152. The betting total is set at 8. The starting pitchers are Ryan Pepiot and Max Fried.

The Rays have tallied 50 doubles as a squad and have smacked 26 baseballs out of the park. Tampa Bay has a slugging rate of .382 and have struck out 250 times, while being walked on 96 occasions. As a team, the Tampa Bay Rays are scoring 4.0 runs per game, which is 19th in baseball. They have amassed 114 RBI's in addition to 249 hits this season, while their team batting average is at .248. They have accounted for 119 runs while having a team on-base percentage of .316.

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The Rays have an ERA of 3.42 on the year (7th in MLB), and their staff has rung up 254 hitters. Rays pitchers have conceded 40 home runs and also 110 runs in total (6th in baseball). They have walked 82 opposing batters and their FIP is 4.16 as a unit for the year. Tampa Bay has relinquished 228 hits (7.6 per 9 innings) as well as 103 earned runs. They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 3.10 and their pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.15.

The Rays have sent 92 relievers to the hill this season. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 13 base runners for the season with 46.2% of those players ended up scoring. They have accumulated 8 saves this year and have not converted 3 of their 11 save opportunities. The Rays relievers have accumulated a save rate of 72.7% and have come into the game in 25 save situations. The relievers have a total of 14 holds so far this year (23rd in MLB). Rays pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 10 times and also have had 28 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Tampa Bay Rays have 812 putouts for the season, in addition to 286 assists and 12 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .989 which ranks 4th in professional baseball, and have a total of 34 double plays. The Rays have converted 72.4% of balls hit into play into outs in their 2,436 innings, which has them sitting 6th in MLB.

Pepiot has thrown 242 frames and has tallied 256 K's during his pro baseball career. His ERA is 3.42 (92 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.165. He has conceded 190 base knocks (7.1 hits per 9 innings) and has had 92 free passes. Pepiot (15-12 career mark) sits with a FIP of 3.37 and he has gone up against 1,005 hitters during his time in the major leagues.

The Yankees hold a team SLG% of .478 and they average 5.71 runs per contest (2nd in MLB). They have recorded 56 two-baggers, while walking 124 times and recording 177 runs. New York has knocked in 53 long balls so far this year to go along with 171 runs batted in. They have struck out on 296 occasions (2nd in baseball) and have totaled 283 base hits. The New York Yankees hold a team on-base percentage of .351 and a team batting average of .267 this season.

The Yankees have a team WHIP of 1.196 in addition to having a FIP of 3.83 as a staff on the campaign. They come in at 1st in the league as a staff in total hits relinquished with 203. The New York pitching staff have allowed 125 runs so far this year while holding an ERA of 3.72 (112 earned runs conceded). They currently have a strikeout to walk ratio of 9.40 (283 strikeouts vs 121 walks). They have surrendered 30 homers and they surrender 4.15 runs per 9 innings (11th in the league).

New York has had relief pitchers enter the contest in 12 save chances and they have recorded 9 saves. They sit at 7th in baseball with a save rate of 75.0%, and they have sent 98 relievers to the mound for the year. Their relievers have come in 23 times in high leverage situations in addition to 34 occasions with runners on. New York relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 14.9% out of their 47 inherited runners. Sitting with 31 save situations, the Yankees have tallied 19 holds and 3 blown saves.

The New York Yankees have gotten 19 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .986 (14th in pro baseball). The Yankees have recorded 261 assists, 15 errors and have notched a total of 813 putouts this year. Out of their 2,439 innings on the diamond, the Yankees are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 73.4% (2nd in the majors).

Fried (78-36 career mark) has a 3.00 earned run average while giving up 7.9 hits per nine innings. His K/BB ratio is 3.51 and he has gone up against 3,771 opposing hitters so far in his career. He has conceded 307 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.159 and having a FIP of 3.0. Thus far in his career, Fried has surrendered 813 base knocks while accumulating 896 punch outs in 921 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (+126)

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