The AL East-leading New York Yankees will visit the Tampa Bay Rays, second in the same division, for the opener of a four-game set at Tropicana Field. The Yankees have been hot of late, winning seven of their last 10, and I like their chances of coming up with an upset in this match-up.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Yankees will hand the ball to CC Sabathia (0-5, 5.45 ERA) who's still looking for his first win of the year. He's been better on the road than at home, posting a 3.95 ERA over four road-starts and conceded just two runs (one earned) on sve hits over seven innings when he visited Tropicana Field last year. The Rays will counter with Alex Colome (2-0, 1.80 ERA) who'll make his third start of the year. He's been thrown into action only because of injuries to the Rays regular pitching staff and I expect the 26 year old to get hit hard just about any game now. Possibly tonight as the Yankees Carlos Beltran is coming in hot going 4-for-9 with four RBIs in his last three games.

2. The visitors bullpen - The Yankees bullpen ranks fifth in baseball on the year as it has compiled a 2.21 ERA over 105 2/3 innings of work. Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller have both yet to allow an earned run in 35 combined innings.

3. X-Factor - The Yankees have won five of the previous six meetings on the season.

Selection: This is a play on the New York Yankees +1.5 (5*)