Yankees vs. Rays Prediction: Game 1 ALDS Preview

The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays will clash in Game 1 of the ALDS at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at Tropicana Field on TBS.

Check out my Yankees vs. Rays prediction based on the latest MLB odds:

Yankees vs. Rays Prediction for Game 1 ALDS

• Rays moneyline (-135)

I like the Rays’ chances of winning Game 1, thanks to their starting-pitcher advantage and their home record.

Right-hander Drew Rasmussen will start for Tampa Bay in Game 1, hoping to maintain his dominance over the Yankees’ lineup. Rasmussen is 5-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 10 career starts against the Yankees, which included a 2-1 clip with a 2.86 ERA in four matchups this season.

Aaron Judge’s status remains uncertain for this series, but he’s 2-for-16 with eight strikeouts in his career against Rasmussen. Ben Rice, New York’s hero in the AL Wild Card, is 1-for-16. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is 2-for-14, while Anthony Volpe is 0-for-11.

The Yankees aren’t the only team that struggled to get going against Rasmussen. He finished 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts this year and posted a Stuff+ of 110. With Rasmussen getting two starts in the ALDS (Games 1 and 4), Tampa Bay has a serious advantage.

Tampa Bay should also benefit from home-field advantage. The Rays went 55-26 at home this year, with five of their seven wins against the Yankees taking place at the Trop.

It has been five years since the Rays have won a playoff game, but all signs point to them changing that on Saturday.

Prediction: Rays moneyline (-135)

Yankees vs. Rays Odds: ALDS, Game 1

• Yankees moneyline: +115
• Rays moneyline: -135
• Total: 7