The New York Yankees host the Tampa Bay Rays on May 24, 2026. First pitch from Yankee Stadium is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on RAYS.
The Yankees are favored by -136 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Rays are +113 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 7.5 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Rays vs Yankees prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Rays vs Yankees Prediction
- Rays vs Yankees Pick: Rays ML
My Rays vs Yankees best bet is on Tampa Bay to win outright. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Rays vs Yankees Odds
| Rays Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -194 | 7.5 -105o / -115u | +113 |
| Yankees Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +159 | 7.5 -105o / -115u | -136 |
- Rays vs Yankees moneyline: Rays +113, Yankees -136
- Rays vs Yankees over/under: 7.5 (-105 / -115)
- Rays vs Yankees spread: Rays +1.5 (-194), Yankees -1.5 (+159)
Rays vs Yankees Probable Pitchers
| RHP Drew Rasmussen (TB) | Stat | LHP Ryan Weathers (NYY) |
|---|---|---|
| 4-1 | W-L | 2-2 |
| 0.8 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 1.0 |
| 3.19 / 3.39 | ERA / xERA | 3.58 / 4.12 |
| 3.74 / 3.19 | FIP / xFIP | 3.51 / 2.75 |
| 18.6% | K-BB% | 23.5% |
| 48.5% | GB% | 43.4% |
| .242 | BABIP | .295 |
| 105 | Stuff+ | 99 |
| 113 | Location+ | 115 |
Rays vs Yankees MLB Betting Preview
Rays vs Yankees Pick, Betting Analysis
Are the Rays still somehow undervalued? That seems to be the case. They have the best record in the AL and are now 5.5 games ahead of the Yankees for first place.
Some pitchers have residency over a certain team — and Drew Rasmussen is leaving rent-free in the Bronx. The Rays ace owns a 1.03 ERA in 51 innings through seven outings against the Bronx Bombers, including a six-inning scoreless outing in April.
In 2026, Rasmussen owns a strong 3.19 ERA with a 3.39 xERA and a 3.74 FIP. He's terrific at inducing weak contact, ranking in the 82nd percentile in hard hit rate and 79th in average exit velocity. Plus, he can work out of a jam quickly with his 49.6% groundball rate.
The Rays' offense is defying all the odds of modern-day baseball. They have a 113 wRC+ in May, good for 5th, but are in the bottom five in homers with 14.
They strike out just 18% of the time (tied for the best), walk 9% of the time (12th), and have 19 steals (5th). Every Tampa Bay hitter outside of Yandy Diaz, Junior Caminero, and Jonathan Aranda serves two purposes: Putting the ball in play and moving runners over. That trio each has a wRC+ better than 135 this month.
Everyone else has speed, and if they do get a hit, they often look to steal or throw down a bunt to get a runner into scoring position.
The Yankees have yet to beat the Rays so far this season, falling short in all four prior meetings. The loss on Friday was a perfect example of why this matchup is horrible for New York.
In the eighth inning, a comedy of errors from the Yankees led to a four-run outburst from the Rays. If a team gives Tampa Bay an inch, it'll take a mile.
Looking to keep Tampa at bay is Ryan Weathers, who's off to a strong maiden season in the Bronx. He owns a 3.58 ERA with a 4.12 xERA and a 3.51 FIP. His last outing against the Blue Jays was one of his worst, giving up five runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Weathers is one of the premier strikeout artists in the American League, punching out 10.91 per nine. He averages 96 mph on his fastball and throws a mean sweeper used to put hitters away.
Will that be as effective against a Rays squad that doesn't swing and miss? We'll see. I imagine Weathers will need to use his sinker more to get quick outs.
Just stringing together five runs in a game feels like a chore for the Yankees. In their last 12 games, they rank 20th with a 93 wRC+. They still rank in the top five in wRC+ this month, but this cold stretch is concerning.
When Aaron Judge doesn't hit, this Yankees lineup is just average. Judge is on a 3-for-27 skid and hasn't had an RBI in his last 11 games — one of the worst runs of his career. I do not doubt that the legendary Judge will get on track, but the Yankees are a shell of themselves with this version of him.
In all, the Yankees will get on track soon. I just think the Rays have no business coming into this game as an underdog. Rasmussen is a stud pitcher who dominates the Yankees, and the Rays have their number so far in 2026.
Pick: Rays Moneyline
