Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees Prediction, 5/23/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees

Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Location: Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY

TV: YES

Odds/Point Spread: Tampa Bay (+110) New York (-132)

Yankee Stadium is the location where the New York Yankees (30-21) will attempt to beat the Tampa Bay Rays (33-15) on Saturday. The odds on this game have the Rays at +110 while the Yankees open at -132. The total comes in at 8.5. The pitchers expected to start will be Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Weathers.

The Rays have recorded 67 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 41 balls out of the stadium. Tampa Bay has a slugging rate of .391 and have been called out on strikes 342 times, while taking a walk on 165 occasions. As a team, the Tampa Bay Rays are scoring 4.8 runs per game, which has them at 8th in MLB. They have 218 RBI's and 422 hits this year, and their average at the plate is .261. They have accumulated 232 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .335.

Get all of our Free MLB Picks

Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.51 and the pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.19. Rays pitchers have allowed 51 long balls and also 192 runs in total (7th in baseball). Tampa Bay has surrendered 365 base knocks (7.6 per 9 innings) in addition to 172 earned runs. The Rays hold a team ERA of 3.57 so far this season (6th in the league), and their staff has rung up 377 hitters. They have walked 150 opposing players and their FIP comes in at 4.01 as a team on the season.

The Rays bullpen have earned a save percentage of 73.3% and stepped onto the hill in 70 save situations. They have accumulated 22 saves this season and have not converted 8 of their 30 chances to get a save. The relief pitchers have inherited 60 runners on the year with 25.0% of those players ended up scoring. Rays relief pitchers have come into the game with players on base 46 times and also have had 57 appearances in high leverage situations. The Rays have sent 156 relievers to the hill this season. The bullpen have a total of 40 holds this season (3rd in MLB).

The Tampa Bay Rays have accumulated 1,301 putouts on the campaign, as well as 394 assists and 32 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .981 which ranks 28th in MLB, and have accumulated 30 double plays. The Rays have converted 72.4% of balls hit into play into outs out of 3,903 innings, which has them ranked 3rd in MLB.

Rasmussen has taken the mound for 508 innings and has 473 strikeouts in his career. Rasmussen (34-18 career win-loss record) has earned a FIP of 2.88 while he has faced 2,034 batters in the majors. His earned run average is 2.92 (165 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.061. He has surrendered 411 hits (7.3 hits per 9 innings) and has had 128 walks.

The New York Yankees have accounted for an on-base percentage of .328 in addition to a team batting average of .233 over the course of the season. They have struck out on 461 occasions (5th in MLB) and have notched a total of 387 base knocks. New York has hit 73 home runs this year as well as 237 RBIs. The Yankees have a slugging percentage of .424 and they average 4.90 runs per game (7th in baseball). They have recorded 85 two-baggers, while taking a walk 229 times as well as putting up 250 runs.

The Yankees hold a team WHIP of 1.173 in addition to having a FIP of 3.44 as a pitching staff on the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 9.00 (449 strikeouts against 156 free passes). They are sitting at 6th in baseball as a staff in total hits surrendered with 373. They have conceded 40 home runs and they give up 3.65 runs per 9 innings (4th in the league). The New York pitching staff have surrendered 183 runs so far this season while having a team ERA of 3.31 (166 earned runs relinquished).

They are ranked 25th in the league with a save percentage of 57.1%, and they have dispatched 166 relief pitchers to the mound for the year. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 58 times in high leverage situations and also on 60 occasions with runners on. With 54 save situations, the Yankees have compiled 32 holds in addition to 9 blown saves. New York has called on relievers to take the mound in 21 save opportunities and they have tallied 12 saves. New York bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 29.8% out of their 94 inherited runners.

The New York Yankees have turned 37 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .987 (16th in baseball). The Yankees have accrued 477 assists, 25 errors and have amassed 1,354 putouts this season. Out of their 4,062 innings played, the Yankees have a defensive efficiency of 71.0% (9th in pro baseball).

During his pro baseball career, Weathers has surrendered 334 hits while totaling 296 strikeouts in 331 innings pitched. Weathers (14-25 record in his career) is the owner of a 4.73 ERA and has conceded 9.1 hits per nine innings. He has surrendered a total of 174 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.347 and having a FIP of 4.7. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.64 and he has gone up against 1,416 batters thus far in his career.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (+110)

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.