Boy do we have a great game on our hands. I know I said I wouldn’t focus on the AL East as much but come on guys its the best division in all of baseball and we know people are looking to see who’s gonna come out on top. Here we have two of the bigger names in the last few years. The Yankees are a main staple in all of the MLB and for sure the AL East. The upstart Rays have been in the division leading picture for the past 4 seasons and seem to keep fighting all that oppose, i.e. Boston 2011 collapse.

Speaking of rays of light, The Tampa Rays are holding a tie for best record in baseball with the Texas Rangers and The Baltimore Orioles (yes, that’s not a typo, The Orioles). The dominate pitching and decent batting. David Price has 5 wins, Longoria still has the best BA even if hes out for a few weeks, which i dont feel will hurt them. The fact of the matter is the Rays all around are amazing. Young guys that are getting their hot streaks early and don’t seem to be letting up. The man taking the mound against the HR Yankees will be the 5-0 James Shields. He has a ERA of 3.05 and a WHIP of 1.23 of all shows why he hasn’t lost a game yet. Well that and his bullpen. If this were at Tropicana I’d say this would already be over and a sweep just like the first games of the year but alas were going to New York where no one is safe.

Below is the projected starting line up for the Tampa Bay Rays. Please keep in mind that this is not official. I am doing this just so you can see some of the names in case you missed the off season acquisitions and departures.

Desmond Jennings (Q), Will Rhymes, B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena, Jeff Keppinger, Luke Scott, Sean Rodriguez, Matt Joyce, Chris Gimenez, Elliot Johnson

Jennings is Questionable for the game but signs point to him still leading off. Longoria is Out for 12 weeks

Below is the projected starting line up for the New York Yankees

Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez, Jayson Nix, Russell Martin, Dewayne Wise

Out- Mariano Rivera, Joba Chamberlain

Even if the Yankees are at home I see their revenge game falling short to the Rays. Yes, they power hit like crazy but can they hit Shields? The Rays will find ways with their moving around players set up that seems to confuse everyone this year. The wins will keep coming. After all, the Orioles did take 2 of 3 from them.

Pick: Tampa Bay Rays +107