MLB Weekend Preview – AL East Heats Up

American League East foes square off this weekend on the MLB betting schedule as the Tampa Bay Rays head to the Bronx for a four-game set against the New York Yankees.

The series gets started on Friday with two lefties on the mound, as David Price (1-0, 3.00) gets the ball for Tampa Bay and CC Sabathia (5-3, 3.46) goes with a day of extra rest for New York. Price picked up his first win of the season in his last start after holding the Twins to one run on five hits with 11 strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings. Last season Price pitched 5 1-3 innings against the Yankees out of the bullpen and allowed two runs on three hits.

Sabathia was originally scheduled to pitch Thursday, but was pushed back a day after New York retooled their rotation. In his last start the big lefthander allowed three runs on five hits and struck out eight in seven innings in a win over Cleveland.

In Saturday’s matinee the pitching matchup is slated to be Matt Garza (4-4, 3.67) for the Rays and Joba Chamberlain (3-1, 3.71) for the Yankees. Garza took the loss against Minnesota in his last start after surrendering three runs on seven hits in seven innings. He faced the Yankees back on April 14 and came away with a no-decision after giving up two runs in seven innings.

Chamberlain was solid against the Indians in his last start, limiting Cleveland to two runs on four hits in eight innings. In five appearances against the Rays last season, all out of the bullpen, Chamberlain did not allow a single run in 6 1-3 innings.

Sunday’s pitching matchup appears to favor New York, with Andy Sonnanstine (4-5, 7.07) on tap for Tampa Bay and A.J. Burnett (4-2, 4.69) scheduled to start for the Yankees. Sonnanstine was effective in his last start against the Royals, as he earned the win after allowing two runs on six hits in 6 2-3 innings. He’s already faced New York twice this season and picked up two no-decisions while posting a 2.92 ERA.

Burnett has logged back-to-back wins over the Rangers and held Texas to three runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings in his last start. He’s faced the Rays twice this season and is 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA.

Finishing off the series on Monday will be Jeff Niemann (5-4, 3.77) for Tampa Bay and Andy Pettitte (5-2, 4.33) for the Yankees. Niemann was brilliant in his last start, a complete-game two-hit shutout against the Royals as a -160 favorite on the MLB odds. He faced the Yankees on May 7 and only lasted 3 1-3 innings after allowing two runs on three hits.

Pettitte suffered his first loss since April last time out after giving up four runs on seven hits in five innings versus the Rangers. He’s posted two no-decisions against the Rays so far this season with a 5.40 ERA.