New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 7/8/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: MLB.TV

Odds/Point Spread: New York (-160) Tampa Bay (+132)

The Tampa Bay Rays (52-36) will try to defeat the New York Yankees (50-40) at Tropicana Field on Wednesday. The moneyline on this game has New York at -160 and Tampa Bay is coming in at +132. The over/under is set at 8. The pitchers who are expected to start are Gerrit Cole and Shane McClanahan.

New York has a slugging rate of .419 and have been called out on strikes 807 times, while being walked on 352 occasions. They have 411 runs batted in in addition to 694 hits this season, while their batting average is .233. The Yankees have recorded 134 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 131 balls out of the park. They have accumulated 432 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .316. As a team, the New York Yankees are recording 4.8 runs/g, which ranks them 10th in the league.

Get all of our MLB Picks Today

The Yankees have an earned run average of 3.37 so far this season (2nd in MLB), and the staff has rung up 788 batters. Yankees pitchers have conceded 87 home runs in addition to 350 total runs (5th in baseball). Their pitching staff has walked 272 batters and their FIP is 3.71 as a team so far this season. New York has surrendered 680 hits (7.7 per 9 innings) and also 299 earned runs. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.90 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.19.

The Yankees bullpen have recorded a save rate of 61.8% and have come into the game in 78 save situations. They have accumulated 21 saves this season and have not converted 13 of 34 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 151 base runners on the campaign and 26.5% of those players ended up crossing the plate. Yankees relief pitchers have gone to the mound with players on base 101 times and also have had 97 appearances in high leverage situations. The Yankees have sent 295 relief pitchers to the hill so far this season. The relievers are sitting with 43 holds this year (21st in MLB).

The Yankees have converted 70.9% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 7,197 innings on the diamond, which has them ranked 8th in MLB. The New York Yankees are sitting with 2,399 putouts on the year, in addition to 787 assists and 53 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .984 which is 20th in MLB, and they have turned 61 double plays.

Cole has taken the hill for 1,996 innings and has tallied 2,292 K's so far in his career. Cole (156-83 win-loss mark in his career) sits with a FIP of 3.15 while going up against 8,041 hitters during his time in the majors. His ERA is 3.20 (709 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.091. He has given up 1,668 base knocks (7.5 hits per 9 innings) and has had 510 walks.

The Tampa Bay Rays hold a team on-base percentage of .335 as well as a batting average of .258 on the season. They have been called out on strikes on 631 occasions (30th in the league) and have tallied 755 hits. Tampa Bay has compiled 84 long balls over the course of the season to go along with 378 RBIs. The Rays have a SLG% of .394 and they average 4.51 runs per outing (16th in MLB). They have notched 122 doubles, while getting a free base 316 times and putting up 397 runs.

The Rays are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.171 and have a FIP of 4.18 as a staff over the course of the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 8.10 (703 strikeouts vs 238 walks). They sit at 5th in MLB as a staff in total hits allowed with 681. They have given up 111 home runs and they allow 4.20 runs per 9 innings (9th in the league). The Tampa Bay pitching staff have allowed 366 runs this season while holding an ERA of 3.76 (328 earned runs conceded).

They are currently ranked 5th in the league holding a save percentage of 72.9%, and they have dispatched 278 bullpen pitchers to the mound this year. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 89 times in high leverage situations and on 72 occasions with base runners. Sitting with 114 save situations, the Rays have accumulated 66 holds and also 13 blown saves. Tampa Bay has had bullpen pitchers enter the contest in 48 save chances and they have tallied 35 saves. Tampa Bay relief pitchers have an inherited score rate of 25.2% out of their 103 inherited runners.

In 7,065 innings on the field, the Rays have a defensive efficiency of 72.1% (2nd in MLB). The Tampa Bay Rays have turned 57 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .983 (23rd in the majors). The Rays have 711 assists, 53 errors and have earned a total of 2,355 putouts so far this year.

In his pro baseball career, McClanahan has surrendered 396 hits while he has tallied 533 K's in 483 innings pitched. McClanahan (40-21 mark in his career) has earned a 3.03 earned run average and has surrendered 7.4 hits per nine innings. He has given up a total of 163 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.117 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.0. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.70 and he has faced 1,959 opposing hitters so far in his career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (+132)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get MLB picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.