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MLB odds: Yankees-Pirates
By Jordan WaltersWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
| Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook |
And you thought interleague play was over?
Not quite, as the New York Yankees take a quick side trip to Pittsburgh tonight in a makeup of a June 26 rainout. And don’t look now, but the Yanks are rolling, having just swept Tampa Bay in a two-game set to climb to only 6.5 games back of the Rays in the AL East.
"They know we're still around. They know that," closer Mariano Rivera said.
Interestingly, the pitching matchup tonight is the same as it was in late June: New York’s Mike Mussina (11-6, 3.64) vs. Pittsburgh’s Paul Maholm (5-5, 4.05).
Mussina was stellar in his last start, holding the Red Sox to four hits in six scoreless innings. “Moose” has gone at least six innings in his last seven starts and could match his win total from last season tonight. His only other start against the Pirates resulted in a five-hit shutout back on June 14, 2005.
Maholm, meanwhile, was roughed up the first time around vs. New York. The Yanks started off the game by connecting for four straight doubles in what ended up being a three-run first inning. Maholm settled down and retired seven of the last eight hitters before the rain came.
Since that game, Maholm has been very good. He has gone 15 innings over his last two starts and allowed a total of three runs on nine hits. He is unbeaten in his last eight starts, and allowed one run on four hits in eight innings against the Brewers in his last start but got a no-decision.
Maholm lost his only other start to the Yanks, giving up five runs (three earned) and six hits in 5 1/3 innings on June 9, 2007.
For what it’s worth, the Yankees lost the series opener 12-5 to Pittsburgh on June 24, but won 10-0 the following day.
The Pirates are +115 money line underdogs on WagerWeb.com, which seems like a price you should jump on - remember, no DH tonight for New York.
