New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction 4/18/25 MLB Picks

Tampa Bay Rays (8-10) vs New York Yankees (11-7)

Game Info: Friday, April 18, 2025 at 7:05 pm (George M. Steinbrenner Field)

C. Rodon (L) vs D. Rasmussen (R)

Betting Odds: Tampa Bay Rays -110 / New York Yankees -110 --- Over/Under: 8.5

The Yankees Vs Rays

Game Preview!

Get ready for round two as the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays clash again this Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. After their first game, the weekend series is heating up, and we're diving deep to bring you a Yankees vs. Rays prediction you can take straight to the betting window. Let's break down the matchup and find the best pick for this game!

The Yankees Team Preview!

So, how have the Yankees been shaping up lately? They came out swinging with a series sweep, but it's been a bit of a rollercoaster since then with wins and losses sprinkled in. Fresh off a series win against the Royals and a 6-3 victory over the Rays in their first game, they're looking to keep the momentum going.

The Yankees started strong by sweeping the Brewers but then alternated series wins and losses against the Diamondbacks, Pirates, Tigers, and Giants. They recently secured a series victory against the Royals, capped by a 4-3 win on Wednesday where Aaron Judge homered. In their Thursday opener against the Rays, a three-run sixth inning led to a 6-3 win, highlighted by Ben Rice's four hits and two RBIs, and Oswaldo Cabrera's homer.

Taking the mound for the Yankees on Friday is Carlos Rodon, who currently holds a 1-3 record with a 5.48 ERA over four starts this season. Throughout his career, Rodon has a 76-66 record with a 3.88 ERA in 202 games (197 starts).

The Rays Team Previews!

Now, what's been going on with the Rays? They kicked off the season with a couple of series wins, hit a rough patch with a sweep, but then bounced back with a big series win against the Braves. After splitting with the Red Sox, they just came off a tough, low-scoring loss. Let's see who they're throwing on the mound tonight.

The Tampa Bay Rays started the season strong, winning two of three against both the Rockies and the Pirates. They then faced a setback with a three-game sweep by the Rangers, followed by a series loss to the Angels but a subsequent series win against the Braves. This week against the Red Sox, they split the first two games before losing the final game 1-0 on Wednesday, despite Zack Little's solid 6.0 innings. In their Thursday game against the Yankees, they held a 3-1 lead but couldn't score after the third inning; Junior Caminero had a home run and two RBIs.

For Friday's game, the Rays will have Drew Rasmussen on the mound. In his three starts this season, Rasmussen is 1-0 with an impressive 0.60 ERA over 15.0 innings. His MLB career stats show a 21-12 record with a 2.85 ERA across 102 games (53 starts), along with two saves.

The Yankees Vs. Rays

Game Prediction!

THE PICK: Tampa Bay Rays

So, with Rasmussen looking sharp and Rodon searching for his footing, I'm leaning towards the Rays bouncing back in this one. But hey, that's just my take! Want to see if this prediction holds true and get more insights for all the upcoming MLB action? Make sure to swing back to our site for all the latest picks and analysis – we'll keep you covered throughout the season!