The Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees will battle this weekend, the final weekend of the MLB season. Nonetheless, it's time to continue our MLB odds series by making a Rays-Yankees prediction and pick.

The Rays have already locked up the top record in the American League, while the Yankees have a little more work to do to nail down the top AL Wild Card spot to clinch a home game in the AL Wild Card game next week. For Tampa, Shane McClanahan (10-6, 3.44 ERA) takes the mound, while Nestor Cortes (2-2, 2.85 ERA) takes the bump in New York Friday night for the Yankees.

Here’s how sportsbooks have set the Rays-Yankees odds.

MLB Odds: Rays-Yankees Odds

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Tampa Bay Rays ML (+108)

New York Yankees ML (-118)

Over 8.5 Runs (-115)

Under 8.5 Runs (-105)

Why The Rays Could Win This Game

Tampa's pitching staff keeps them in most games. However, with seeding for the playoffs locked up already, they may decide to limit their high leverage guys this weekend in an effort to get them some rest ahead of the postseason. Still, the Rays have one of the most talented and well coached rosters in the game, boasted by their 98-61 record. The Rays are 46-32 on the road this season, and have the best overall run differential in the American League.

McClanahan has been a very solid starting pitching option for Tampa this season, collecting 138 strikeouts across 120 innings. He has 10 wins in 24 starts this season.

Why The Yankees Could Win This Game

The Yankees need this game. They are two games ahead of the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners in the AL Wild Card race, and they'll need at least one more win to nail down a home game next week. They likely do not want to put off winning that game to later in the weekend, so tonight will be big.

Cortes has pitched in 21 games for New York this season, 13 of those being starts. He's pitching 88 1/3 innings, racking up 98 strikeouts to just 25 walks. Giancarlo Stanton has been red hot at the plate for the Yankees, hitting .286 with 10 home runs and 26 RBI in the month of September. The Yankees are 45-33 at home this season, and have won 8 of their last 10 games overall.

Final Rays-Yankees Prediction & Pick

The Yankees need this game more than the Rays. New York has been red hot, and they have a chance to nail down their wild card position with a win and a loss by either the Red Sox or the Mariners. The Bombers will be poised for a big night, and Cortes should be able give them some quality innings before the bullpen takes over. The Rays should have their eyes on next week's ALDS, where they may be facing the Yankees again if New York is able to lock down a Wild Card spot and then win the AL Wild Card game.

FINAL RAYS-YANKEES PREDICTION & PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES ML (-118)