Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays Betting Picks & Predictions
In this Pirates at Rays prediction, both teams will face off in their first inter-league game of the season in Florida. The Pirates struggled in their opening weekend, losing
Game outlook
In this Pirates at Rays prediction, both teams will face off in their first inter-league game of the season in Florida. The Pirates struggled in their opening weekend, losing three out of four games to the Marlins in Miami. On the other hand, the Rays won two out of three games against the Rockies while playing at the Yankees' Spring Training complex. The pitching matchup for game one of the series is still undecided, with the Pirates yet to announce their starting pitcher and the Rays going with Shane Baz. The Rays are the betting favorites with the current line at -167. The game is scheduled to start at 7:05 PM EST.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Pirates +149 | Rays -167
Spread: Pirates +1.5 (-140) | Rays -1.5 (+122)
Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 63%.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates have had a rocky start to the season, currently holding a 1-3 record despite some close games that could have gone the other way. In their most recent game, they fell 3-2 to the Marlins with the winning run scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth. Andrew McCutchen hit his 800th career extra-base hit in this game, but the team only managed five hits overall. Despite the tough start, the Pirates have received solid pitching, with an overall team ERA of 3.25. Due to injuries and schedule adjustments, they may utilize a bullpen game against the Rays on Tuesday. The team ranks 16th in offense, 17th in defense, and holds a power ranking of 26. Key injuries include 2B Nick Gonzalez, RP Tanner Rainey, and 1B Spencer Horwitz.