2020 MLB Playoffs: Rays vs. Yankees Game 5 odds and pick

Eight remaining teams in the MLB Postseason quickly evaporated to five on Thursday; the Braves swept the Marlins, the Astros eliminated the A’s in Game 4, and the Dodgers swept the Padres. That leaves the Friday night stage exclusively to the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays as their ALDS heads to the fifth and final game. We’ll take a long look at this one as we try to uncover the best available bet in this Petco Park affair.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees, 7:10 p.m. ET, TBS

It will be an intriguing starting pitching matchup for this decisive Game 5 between the Yankees and Rays, as New York sends Gerrit Cole to the hill on three days’ rest to face Tampa’s Tyler Glasnow, starting on two days’ rest.

Cole has never pitched on short rest in any of his 216 career starts, including the playoffs. His teammates could not be more confident in him.

"We’re going to win," Bombers first baseman Luke Voit told ESPN. "[With] Gerrit on the mound, that’s the best situation possible for us, and we’re locked and loaded."

Outfielder Aaron Judge echoed those sentiments.

"This is why we got [Cole],” Judge said. "We didn’t get him to throw in April, we didn’t get him to throw in May. We got him to throw postseason baseball for the Yankees."

Cole was more matter-of-fact about starting on short rest.

"When the lights turn on, it doesn’t matter if it’s three, four, five, six, seven days’ rest ... you gotta do your job," he told ESPN.

The Yankees have won five straight games behind Cole, but he certainly hasn’t been untouchable in these playoffs. His ERA is 3.46 over two starts. The Rays tagged him for three runs on six hits – including homers by Randy Arozarena and Ji-Man Choi – in six innings of work in Game 1. Behind Cole is a bullpen that has a woeful postseason ERA of 4.33.

Glasnow, who told manager Kevin Cash he was ready to go the day after his start in Game 2, is embracing the challenge of starting on short rest in Game 5.

"As far as health goes, I feel really good," he told ESPN. "I’m ready to go."

The Rays have won 10 straight games started by Glasnow – including two this postseason – but he and the rest of his teammates have to be fearful of Giancarlo Stanton, who homered twice off Glasnow for four RBI in Game 2. Tampa’s bullpen has also been lackluster in this series, authoring a 4.01 ERA. Their saving grace might be that Ryan Yarbrough ate up five innings in a 5-1 loss in Game 4, saving their best arms for Game 5.

The Rays get a tepid nod to win this ALDS, but the best bet of the night is the Over.

Predicted final score: Rays 6 – Yankees 5

MLB pick: Over