This is a 10* GAME OF THE WEEK on the New York Yankees.

Obviously this is a big series for each club. I'd say that this is also a "big" series for Gerrit Cole, who signed one of the biggest contracts in history to move to New York.

This is exactly why the Yankees spent that money on Cole, to have someone of his caliber be able to beat division leaders at home.

Yes Tampa has been better overall than the Yanks this year, but New York plays with revenge here as Tampa already has a 6-1 season series lead in this matchup.

The Yanks are trending back in the correct direction though after three straight close victories over the Mets over the weekend, each decided in their last at bat.

Cole is 4-1 with a 3.51 ERA and Glasnow is 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA. Cole is 0-2 with a 3.65 ERA in six career starts vs. Tampa and Glasnow is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in four career outings vs. the Yanks.

Cole's 20 game win streak was snapped last time out in a 5-1 loss to the Braves, the first loss he's suffered since May 2019, but I think he's going to easily bounce back here.

I'm basing my pick entirely on Cole here. Starting pitching is "less important" to the bookmakers than it's ever been, with plenty of books moving to "action" in MLB for all wagers.

We've yet to see a purely dominant performance from Cole this season, but I think that's about to change tonight.

All things considered, I'd view this as the very definition of "great line value."

The play is the Yanks!

Good luck, NP