New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Quick read:

The Yankees are taking the moneyline not because they are invincible, but because the Rays look like a team that has been running on fumes since the regular season grind. You don't bet on the underdogs when the favorite is bringing its A-game in the rotation and the opposition looks like it’s saving its energy for the parade. This is a classic case of the big fish showing up to eat the small fish, and the odds reflect that reality.

New York has been a machine recently, scoring 18 runs while allowing just two in their previous outing, a performance that reeks of suffocating dominance. That offensive surge came with 26 hits and four home runs, a volume of production that makes the Rays' pitching staff look like they're trying to keep a submarine from sinking with a cup of coffee. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay's season-long totals of 736 runs scored and 650 allowed suggest a team that swings wildly, and in a short series, that volatility is a death sentence against a staff led by Cole.

The only real risk here is the injury cloud hanging over Aaron Judge, which could dampen the top of the order if he's off his game. If the Yankees' offense sputters, the price gets a little steep for a team that relies heavily on its star power to clear hurdles. But if you are betting on a Rays win, you are essentially buying a lottery ticket where the house edge is currently wearing a pinstripe uniform.