The least dramatic of the division races is unfolding in the AL East. The lack of drama has nothing to do with how close the teams are -- New York leads Tampa Bay by half a game through Tuesday -- or the competitiveness of the games. Since Boston is essentially out of the race that basically guarantees that the one team will win the AL East while the other will secure the AL Wild Card berth.

The New York/Tampa series this week is more about seeding, momentum and confidence than anything else. After the teams split a pair of one-run encounters in the first two games, pivotal Game 3 will originate from Tampa Bay, Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. ET.

While the race may lack drama, the games certainly have not. On Monday the Rays won on a walk-off home run by Reid Brignac in extra innings. They finally overtook New York for the AL East lead, but it was a short-lived one as Yankees countered on Tuesday with a dramatic win when Jorge Posada roped a go-ahead, home run in extra innings.

MLB Predictions: Pitching matchup
Phil Hughes (RHP, 16-7, 4.26 ERA) vs. James Shields (RHP, 13-12, 4.98 ERA)
The Yankees return Hughes to the rotation for the first time since Sept. 5. Innings have been a concern for the 24-year old right-handed pitcher, but his effectiveness has also been a concern. He is 5-5 since the all-star break but he has an inflated 5.37 ERA.

Shields has not been too hot either recently. Winless in his last two starts, he was tagged for three home runs against Toronto on Friday and he is 1-1 with a 7.31 ERA in his last three starts. In his career Shields has been battered by the Yankees. He is 3-7 against them with a 4.97 ERA. The Rays are 3-10 the last 13 times that Shields has taken the mound against the Bronx Bombers.

Hughes sports a below average 4.29 ERA against the Rays and a 2-2 record.

Yankees vs. Rays Baseball Betting Odds
The odds are split right down the middle with both New York and Tampa Bay listed at -110. The total is 9. Odds are courtesy of Sportsbook.com.

Yankees vs. Rays Betting Trends
‘Over’ is 11-3 in the last 14 meetings between New York and Tampa Bay
‘Over’ is 4-1 in Shields’ last five starts vs. the Yankees
Rays are 3-10 in Shields’ last 13 starts vs. the Yankees
Rays are 1-5 in Shields’ last six home starts vs. the Yankees
Yankees are 7-2 in their last nine games following a win
Yankees are 6-2 in their last eight games vs. a right-handed starter

Yankees vs. Rays Picks and Predictions
This is an old-fashioned division race between two teams as evenly matched as they come. The Rays and Yankees have been within 2 ½ games of each other in the standings for the past 50 days. In the past 13 meetings in the series New York has won six and Tampa Bay has won seven. Both pitchers have struggled lately and they have struggled against their respective opponents tonight. Tonight’s AL East showdown has the makings of another close game with a dramatic finish but also a high-scoring affair. The play here is the ‘over’.

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