The New York Yankees will kick off a crucial series against the Tampa Bay Rays at 6:40 p.m. ET on Monday. What was once a close race in the AL East is slowly shifting in the opposite direction as the Yankees continue their worst slump of the year. With outfielder Aaron Judge on the injured list, the offense has been downright atrocious, helping contribute to nine defeats in New York’s last 10 games. These next four contests are about as important as July baseball games get, making the Yankees’ woes as ill-timed as they get.

Mercifully, the Yankees have starter Cam Schlittler on the bump for this game. If there is any pitcher in the American League who can lead his team to a win with minimal run support, it is the 25-year-old righty, who currently owns a 2.08 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. Aside from his nightmarish last outing against the Detroit Tigers, Schlittler has consistently blown batters out of the box behind an elite fastball, earning 10.64 strikeouts per nine innings, a truly elite number. However, that actually might work against the Yankees, who need Schlittler to be on the mound for as long as possible to protect an increasingly poor bullpen. Without a fantastic outing from its ace, New York is unlikely to turn its losing ways around.

Opposing Schlittler is a Tampa Bay offense led by the scorching-hot third baseman Junior Caminero. The Dominican slugger is hitting .290 with a .942 OPS, illustrating his status as one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball. Designated hitter Yandy Diaz and first baseman Johnathan Aranda have been nearly as good, rounding out what has quietly been an uber-productive lineup. Starting pitcher Griffin Jax does not have nearly as much pressure on his shoulders as Schlittler does, thanks to the offensive production coming from his teammates, giving the Rays a substantial advantage in this contest.

Yankees -1.5 (+174)Rays +1.5 (-190)Over 7.5 (+105)Under 7.5 (-115)

Note: The above data was collected on July 6, 2026, and may have changed since writing.

Yankees vs Rays Betting TrendsNew York is 22-24 ATS as the road team.The over is 3-1 when the Yankees enter the game as a road underdog.Tampa Bay is an astounding 16-7 ATS against AL East opponents.The under is 22-18-3 when the Rays play at home.Yankees vs Rays Betting TrendsMax Fried, SP – Out.Luis Gil, SP – Out.Carlos Rodon, SP – Out.Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B – Questionable.Aaron Judge, OF – Out.Giancarlo Stanton, DH – Out.Ryan Pepiot, SP – Out.Steven Matz, SP – Out.Jesse Scholtens, RP – Out.Gavin Lux, 2B – Out.Jake Fraley, OF – Out.Chandler Simpson, OF – Out.Yankees vs Rays Prediction and Pick

It is understandable that the odds are close in this game because of Schlittler, but it is hard to stomach a New York money line at even money. The Yankees seem to find ways to beat themselves in games their opponent is incapable of doing so, making the Tampa Bay money line the best pick on the board.