Thursday night baseball and we will see the Tampa Bay Rays take on the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, California. First pitch is scheduled for a 7:05 PM (Eastern) start time and the game will be televised locally. Current Betting Odds, according to Sportsbook.ag, have New York listed as the favorite. 

Current Odds

Tampa Bay      +101
New York         -109

Over/ Under: 8 O -115

Analysis: The Rays (37-35) entered Wednesday having dropped eight of 10 before winning 6-2 at Boston. Desmond Jennings hit his ninth homer and prized prospect Wil Myers, playing in his third game, collected his first two RBIs. Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Matt Moore was the leader in the clubhouse for the American League Cy Young Award through the first seven weeks of the season after winning his first eight decisions. Moore - who turned 24 Tuesday - has come back to earth, however, losing three consecutive starts and watching his ERA nearly double during that span. He will look to recapture his early-season form when the Rays open a four-game series today at the New York Yankees. Moore (8-3, 4.12 ERA) opened 8-0 with a 2.18 ERA, but he's been knocked around in losing each of his three starts this month. The 24-year-old left-hander, surrendering an AL-worst 4.72 walks per nine innings, has allowed 20 runs, 26 hits and 11 free passes in 12 1-3 innings during his skid. Moore has allowed a combined two runs in two starts spanning 14 innings against New York this year, going 1-0 with a .146 opponent batting average. He's 3-2 with a 3.57 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 35 1-3 innings over six matchups in the series. 

Veteran Andy Pettitte will square off with Moore, who was just shy of his sixth birthday when Pettitte made his major-league debut in 1995. Pettitte, who turned 41 on Saturday, will be seeking his 251st victory against an opponent he has dominated throughout his career. He is 17-7 against Tampa Bay and will look to provide a spark for the Yankees, who split a doubleheader with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday and have lost six of eight. Pettitte also came out of the gate fast this season, winning his first three starts, but also has suffered a noticeable drop-off. He surrendered four runs on a season-high 11 hits against the Los Angeles Angels in his last outing - the second time in three starts he's allowed four runs following a stint on the disabled list. Pettitte is 1-2 with a 5.74 ERA in five starts at Yankee Stadium. Vernon Wells and Jayson Nix are a combined 2 for 22 against Moore, though Robinson Cano is 4 for 12 with a homer. Wells is 6 for 56 in 16 games this month. 

Pick: I like the Yanks in this one. Matt Moore has struggled mightily of late with an 0-3 mark and a 13.86 ERA in his last 3 starts. Andy Pettitte has struggled at home with a 1-2 mark and a 5.724 ERA, but he is due for a good showing and he is 17-7 in his career vs the Rays. The Yanks should take game one here.  

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