Well a lot of talk about taking Tampa Bay because they are the value play here and I can't say I disagree about that. However, consider this.
- Jason Hammel making his first start of the season.
- Tampa Bay was 0-5 last year when Hammel started against the AL East.
- In those five starts, Hammel allowed 25 ER's in 22 IP's.
- Hemmel has pitched 3 innings of relief vs. the AL East this season, allowing 2 ER's and 5 BB's.
- Tampa Bay is 0-5 in their last five opening games of a double header
- Yankees have followed up four of their last five losses with a win
- Tampa Bay is 1-6 in their last seven games versus a left handed pitcher
- Lazaro Diaz is behind home plate today and he's a big time homer (24-12 last year) and (13-8 this year).
- As poorly as Igawa has pitched, he has 6.9 runs of run support per start this season which should be enough to chase Hammel out of the ballpark with maybe 10+ runs by the Yankees when all is said and done.
- Tampa Bay bullpen has an ERA of 8.88 in their last 10 games
YANKEES ML -215 (Game 1)