New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays Player Props, Picks and Predictions - 8/20/2025 7:35 PM EDT

We have your New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays prop betting and game preview needs covered as the New York Yankees hit the road to face the Tampa Bay Rays.

New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays Pick

Best Moneyline Odds: Tampa Bay Rays -114, New York Yankees +100
Best Spread Odds: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (-205), New York Yankees +1.5 (-200)
Best Total Odds: Over 8.5 (-110), Under 9.0 (-121)

Game Info

Date: 2025-08-20
Time: 7:35 PM ET
Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field
TV: -

New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays Preview

The New York Yankees travel to George M. Steinbrenner Field to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in what promises to be an intriguing AL East matchup. The Yankees enter this contest with a strong 67-57 record, placing them second in the AL East, while the Rays hold a 61-64 record, sitting fourth in the division. The Yankees are coming off an explosive 13-3 victory over the Rays in their last outing, a game where they tied a franchise record with nine home runs, showcasing their formidable offensive power. New York leads the majors with 195 home runs and boasts a .446 slugging percentage, which is tops in baseball.

On the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays will be Drew Rasmussen, who holds an impressive 10-5 record with a 2.60 ERA. Rasmussen has been particularly dominant in August, sporting a 2-0 record with a minuscule 0.52 ERA this month, and has allowed one earned run or fewer in 14 of his 24 starts this season. He also holds a career 0.85 ERA against the Yankees across six appearances. Countering for the New York Yankees is rookie Cam Schlittler, who has a 1-2 record and a 3.94 ERA. Schlittler will need to be more efficient than his last outing against the Rays, where he allowed three runs and four walks in 4 1/3 innings.

Offensively, the Rays, with a .250 team average (7th in MLB) and a league-leading 158 stolen bases, will look to generate offense and put pressure on the young Yankees starter. However, the Yankees have been red-hot, winning seven of their last ten games and averaging over six runs per game during that span, compared to the Rays' five wins and 3.7 runs per game in their last ten. The Yankees' ability to hit the long ball and drive in runs consistently gives them a significant edge, especially against a team that has shown some offensive inconsistencies recently.

Historic Head-to-Head Stats and Analysis

The New York Yankees have held the upper hand in recent head-to-head matchups against the Tampa Bay Rays. In their last 10 clashes, the Yankees have won seven, leading the season series 7-4. This includes a commanding 13-3 victory in their most recent encounter on August 20th. Looking at the overall historical record, the Yankees lead with 85 victories, including 32 on the road, while the Rays have secured 76 wins, with 39 of those coming at home. The Yankees have also demonstrated a strong ability to cover the run line, doing so in eight of their last nine games as road underdogs against AL East opponents. This consistent performance against the Rays, particularly on the road, highlights the Yankees' strategic advantage in this rivalry.

Pick: New York Yankees Moneyline (+100)

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Despite playing on the road and being listed as slight underdogs, the New York Yankees present excellent value on the moneyline. Their recent form is undeniable, with a 7-3 record in their last ten games and an average of 6.2 runs per game. This offensive surge was highlighted by their dominant 13-3 win over the Rays, where they hit nine home runs. While Drew Rasmussen is a formidable pitcher for the Rays, the Yankees' lineup is currently firing on all cylinders and has shown the ability to overcome strong pitching. The Yankees' superior head-to-head record against the Rays, coupled with their strong performance as road underdogs against AL East opponents, makes them a compelling pick to secure another victory in this series.

Top Player Prop Picks

Junior Caminero Over 0.5 Home Runs (+125)

Junior Caminero has shown a knack for power against Yankees starter Cam Schlittler, hitting a home run in their limited head-to-head matchups (1 HR in 3 PAs). While the sample size is small, his 1.333 slugging percentage in this matchup is notable. The Tampa Bay Rays are also expected to rely on solo shots to generate offense, making Caminero a prime candidate to go deep. At +125 odds, this prop offers attractive value for a player who has demonstrated the ability to hit the long ball against this specific pitcher.

Aaron Judge Over 1.5 Total Bases (-105)

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Aaron Judge, a cornerstone of the New York Yankees' powerful offense, is a strong candidate to exceed 1.5 total bases. Despite a challenging historical matchup against Drew Rasmussen (1 hit in 9 at-bats), Judge is a premier power hitter, and the Yankees' offense is currently red-hot, coming off a nine-homer game. With the Yankees expected to have a high-scoring affair, Judge will be central to their offensive production. The favorable odds of -105 make this a solid pick for Judge to contribute significantly with extra-base hits or multiple singles.

Josh Lowe Over 0.5 Hits (-205)

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Josh Lowe has an excellent historical matchup against Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler, boasting a perfect 1.000 batting average with 2 hits in 2 plate appearances. While this is a very small sample size, it indicates a favorable individual matchup for Lowe. Given the Rays' need to generate offense and Lowe's demonstrated success against Schlittler, he is well-positioned to record at least one hit in this game. The odds of -205 reflect the high probability of this outcome based on the head-to-head data.