The American League Divisional Series sees the Tampa Bay Rays head to Yankee Stadium to meet their AL East rival in Game 3 as the New York Yankees hope to wake the bats up and extend their season. First pitch from Yankee Stadium is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (TBS). Let's analyze MLB odds around the Rays vs. Yankees odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
ALDS series: Rays lead 2-0; won regular-season series 7-6
The Yankees got a heck of an outing from DH Ben Rice in Game 2 with a pair of home runs (2 for 3). The only issue for the Yanks is ... everything else. The rest of the lineup has combined for 3 hits and no runs in the first 2 games of this series and Game 2 saw a mess of errors unfold on the field defensively
for New York. The Yankees will hope LHP Max Fried, who gets the start on the bump in Game 3, will help quell some of those concerns.
Meanwhile, the Rays beat Fried the last time they faced him Sept. 22, also in New York, in a win that helped them clinch the AL East. Tampa chased Yankees ace Cam Schlittler in the fifth inning in Game 2 and finished with hits from all over the lineup including near the top of the order from 1B Jonathan Aranda (2 for 5, run) and 3B Junior Caminero (2 for 4, run). 2B Richie Palacios (1 for 4) added 2 RBIs.
Veteran RHP Nick Martinez will get nod as the Rays' first pitcher in this one. He had 2 road starts in the Bronx in 2026, and while he was 0-2 in those outings, he only allowed 3 ER between the 2 in 12 innings pitched.
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Rays at Yankees projected starters
LHP Max Fried vs. RHP Nick Martinez
Fried (5-5, 2.80 ERA), had a 0.95 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 in 112.2 IP in 20 starts in the regular season.
- Last start (Game 2 ALWC): Win, 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K in a 9-2 home win vs. the Boston Red Sox
- 2026 vs. Rays (2 starts): 0-1, 4.39 ERA, 7 ER, 12 H, 2 BB in 2 appearances.
- Career postseason: 3-6, 5.03 ERA (82.1 IP, 46 ER, 1.48 WHIP, 79 K (8.6 K/9) in 23 appearances (15 starts)
Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA) posted a 1.09 WHIP, 1.3 BB/9, 5.5 K/9 over 180.0 IP in 31 starts this season.
- Last start (Sept. 27): Loss, 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 1 K in a 7-2 loss at the Philadelphia Phillies
- 2026 vs. Yankees (3 starts): 0-1, 2.14 ERA, 4 ER, 19 H, 5 BB, 12 K in 3 appearances.
- Career postseason (0 starts): 0-1, 3.18 ERA, 4 ER (5 R), 7 H, 2 BB, 11 K in 8 appearances.
Rays at Yankees odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:49 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rays +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Yankees -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays +1.5 (-160) | Yankees -1.5 (+135)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: -125 | U: +105)
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Braves at Dodgers picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 3, Yankees 2
Moneyline
The RAYS (+135) were just 2-4 at Yankees Stadium during the regular season, but the Yanks feel like a sinking ship after that Game 2 performance. While Martinez has not gotten a win against New York in 2026, he looks due as well.
BET RAYS (+135).
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
There's no value in the Rays +1.5 (-160). Plus, we're backing them with the ML play.
Over/Under
The Yankees' bats could wake up at home, but the Bronx faithful could also provide plenty of Bronx cheers just as easily. The Rays have shown they can get on the board, but unless your name is Rice, you haven't done that for the Yankees as of late.
BET UNDER 7 (-125).
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees odds, picks and predictions
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