Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Vegas Play of the Day: New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays

We’ve entered the third season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.

Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. Ray Brewer won the 2015-2016 season, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-2015. Bern stepped away in the middle of the 2016-2017 season with a 16-12 record and $13,317 bankroll, with Mike Grimala taking his place.

Tampa Bay Rays plus-130 vs. New York Yankees: $300 to win $390

Two American League East teams’ power ratings are out of whack to start the season. Bettors are fortunate that they’re playing each other.

There’s too much excitement around the Yankees, who boast a strong young core but one that is still a couple years away from really contending. Similarly, there’s too much pessimism regarding the Rays, who have a stronger roster than last year’s results indicate.

As long as these teams have relatively equally matched pitchers on the mound — and they do tonight with Tampa’s Alex Cobb against New York’s Michael Pineda — then the betting odds should stay around pick’em.

Tonight’s line implies less than a 43 percent chance that the Rays beat the Yankees. I’d give them more like a 52 percent chance.

That difference is the largest on the board today. That difference makes the Rays the play.

Current Standings: Grimala (6-10, $8,425), Keefer (39-34-3, $7,831), Granger (13-17-1, $6,677), Brewer (27-28-1, $6,685)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy