MLB Tropicana Field Final

New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction

Prediction pending — the engine scores this game once the probable starters are posted

Yankees 64-51 · L1
12 – 4
Rays 68-46 · W3
Thu 9 Jul 2026 · 18:10 UK (1:10 PM ET)

Final Result & Grading

Final score
12–4
NYY at TB
Winner
Yankees

Pre-Game Win Probabilities

The engine hasn’t scored this game yet — predictions are written once the probable starters are posted, usually 24–48 hours out. This page fills in on its own when they land.

See the current slate →

Starting Pitchers

Yankees
Paul Blackburn
Rays
Drew Rasmussen

Recent Form

Yankees L L L L L L W W L L 2-8 last 10
Rays W W W W W W W L W W 9-1 last 10

Oldest on the left, most recent on the right — hover any result for the opponent and score.

Team Stats · 2026 Season

YankeesRays
Record 64-51 68-46
Win % .557 .596
Division AL East AL East
Division rank 2nd 1st
Games back 4.5 -
Last 10 5-5 7-3
Streak L1 W3
Home record 27-25 41-18
Away record 37-26 27-28
Runs scored/gm 4.54 4.47
Runs allowed/gm 3.83 4.11
Run differential +81 +41

How The Model Sees It

Yankees come in 2-8 over their last 10, scoring 2.80 and conceding 4.90 runs a game. Rays are 9-1 in their last 10 at 4.70 scored and 2.00 allowed. Rays arrive in the better shape, though ten games is a short window and form is weighted lightly here.

On the mound it is Paul Blackburn for Yankees against Drew Rasmussen for Rays — the largest single input on this page. One start moves a baseball projection further than a full lineup change would, which is why the engine waits for both probables before scoring a game.

Season run differential reads +81 for Yankees and +41 for Rays. Per game that is 4.54 scored against 3.83 allowed, versus 4.47 and 4.11. Yankees are clearly the better side on the season — and differential is a more honest measure than record, because it survives the luck in one-run games.

Rays are 41-18 at home, Yankees 37-26 on the road. Home advantage in baseball is real but small — historically worth something near 54%, not the lopsided edge it carries elsewhere — so the splits inform this projection without dominating it. The ballpark matters more than the venue: run environment varies more between parks than between lineups.

This pick is published before first pitch and will be graded on this page once the game is final, whether it lands or misses.

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Modelled probabilities from a deterministic engine, not betting advice. Every pick is published before the game and graded after it on the accuracy page.