Rogers' Run Line PUNISHER >> 32-20-3 L10 Days! 14-7-1 in MLB!
(MLB) Tampa Bay vs. NY Yankees,
Point Spread: 1.50 | -163.00 Tampa Bay (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Yankees opened the 2017 season losing two of three in Tampa to the Rays and then losing two of three in Baltimore to the Orioles. However, after 8-1 and 8-4 wins Monday and Wednesday against the Rays here in the Bronx, the Yanks go for a three-game sweep in their opening series at home in tonight's game against Tampa. Tampa Bay opened its 2017 season by taking five of seven at home over New York and Toronto but are looking for the team's first road win of the season tonight, after getting outscored 16-5 while going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and committing four errors in the first two games of this series in the Bronx.

The pitching matchup: Matt Andriese (0-0 & 9.00 ERA) gets the nod for Tampa and Luis Severino (0-0 & 7.20 ERA) for New York. Andriese is Tampa's fifth starter, as of now. However, he may need to put together a few strong performances to keep his hold on that role after allowing five runs (four earned) and seven hits against Toronto last Friday. He was 8-8 with a 4.37 ERA in 29 appearances in 2016 (19 starts) and went 2-6 with a 6.03 ERA after the All-Star break last season. He's made three career starst vs. the Yankees, going 1-2 with a 7.43 ERA. Severino kept his team in the game during his first start of the season (allowed four runs and six hits with six strikeouts and a walk over five innings in a 6-5 loss to Baltimore last Friday) but he's still searching for the form he displayed in 2015 when he was 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 11 starts as a rookie. He is 3-1 with a 3.47 ERA in seven appearances (three starts / team is 2-1 and his ERA is 5.17!) against Tampa Bay.

The pick: The Rays have dropped their last eight series in New York but haven't been swept at Yankee Stadium since losing four straight here back in September 2009. Severio is a liability and I won't ignore that he owned a 5.83 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 22 appearances in 2016, including 11 starts. In fact, the Yankees were 2-9 in his starts, going minus-$714 against the moneyline. Take the 1 1/2 runs with Tampa Bay and make them an 8* play.