The Pittsburgh Pirates (20-10) play the middle outing of a 3-game interleague series with the Tampa Bay Rays (24-6) Wednesday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Pirates vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rays lead series 1-0 after going 3-0 in 2022
The Pirates, leading the NL Central Division, suffered the 4-1 setback in the series opener Tuesday. Despite the loss, the Bucs still lead the NL Central by 1½ games over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Pittsburgh lost back-to-back games for the 1st time since April 1-2 in Cincinnati. The Pirates also saw an 8-game cover streak on the run line as an underdog snapped.
The AL East-leading Rays, with the best record in baseball, are 7-2 in the 2nd game of a series this season. Tampa Bay cashed the Under on Tuesday, allowing just the single run, but the Rays are averaging 8.4 runs per game (RPG) across the last 5 outings.
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Pirates at Rays projected starters
RHP Mitch Keller vs. LHP Shane McClanahan
Keller (3-0, 3.53 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.21 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9 and 10.1 K/9 in 35 2/3 innings.
- Last start: W, 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 10 K in 6-2 home win vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday — his 5th straight quality start (QS)
- Road splits this season: 1-0, 4.08 ERA (17 2/3 IP, 8 ER), .239 opponent batting average (OBA) in 3 starts
- Is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA with 4 BB and 14 K in 13 IP in 2 starts in interleague games this season
McClanahan (5-0, 2.12 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.09 WHIP, 3.7 BB/9, 11.1 K/9 in 34 IP innings.
- Last start: W, 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K in 14-5 road win vs. Chicago White Sox Thursday
- Home splits this season: 2-0, 1.59 ERA (17 IP, 3 ER), .153 opponent batting average (OBA) in 3 starts
- Won his only interleague start April 5 in Washington, allowing 2 ER, 5 H and 4 BB with 6 K across 6 IP
Pirates at Rays odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:03 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Pirates +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Rays -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Pirates +1.5 (-125) | Rays -1.5 (+105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Pirates at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 4, Pirates 2
Moneyline
The Rays (-210) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s quite expensive for a standalone play, even though Tampa Bay has been money at home.
PASS, and look to the home line instead.
Run line/Against the spread
RAYS -1.5 (+105) are a much better play on the run line at plus-money.
Tampa Bay cashed as a favorite on the run line in Tuesday’s series opener, and the Rays have covered in 3 of the last 4 as a favorite. After struggling on the run line in late April, the Rays are starting to heat up again as a favorite.
Be careful, however, as the Pirates +1.5 (-125) have cashed in 8 of the last 9 games an an underdog on the run line, although that lone non-cover was in the opener of this series.
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Over/Under
The UNDER 7 (-105) is the play, even though it’s quite a low number.
Both Keller and McClanahan should toss up plenty of donuts, however, like we saw in Tuesday’s interleague series opener.
The Under is 6-1-1 in the last 8 for the Pirates on an artificial surface, while the Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 at home for the Rays. The Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 in Game 2 of a series for Tampa Bay, too.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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