Tampa Bay Rays at Pittsburgh Pirates odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s Tampa Bay Rays at Pittsburgh Pirates odds and lines, with MLB expert picks, predictions and best bets.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

The Tampa Bay Rays (37-39) and Pittsburgh Pirates (36-39) meet Saturday for the 2nd game of a 3-game series. First pitch from PNC Park is set for 4:05 p.m. ET (MLB.TV Free Game of the Day). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Pirates odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Tampa Bay leads 1-0

Tampa Bay routed the Pirates 10-3 Friday while cashing as a -127 road favorite. The Rays jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning and never trailed at any point. Tampa Bay had 17 hits to Pittsburgh’s 5 and 29 total bases to Pittsburgh’s 9.

Tampa Bay has won 3 consecutive games, while the Pirates are 1-2 in their last 3 outings.

Rays at Pirates projected starters

RHP Zach Eflin vs. RHP Jared Jones

Eflin (3-4, 4.12 ERA) makes his 14th start. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 0.6 BB/9 and 6.9 K/9 in 74 1/3 innings.

  • Last start: No-decision, 5 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 7 K in 8-6 win at Atlanta Braves Sunday
  • Career vs. Pittsburgh: 2-1, 1.35 ERA (20 IP, 3 ER), 0.55 WHIP, 8.6 K/9 in 3 starts, including 1-0 with 0.00 ERA (7 IP) in 1 start last season

Jones (4-6, 3.76 ERA) makes his 15th start. The rookie has a 1.13 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 in 79 innings.

  • Last start: Loss, 4 2/3 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 6 K in 16-4 defeat at Colorado Rockies June 15
  • Has never faced Rays before

Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.

Rays at Pirates odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:27 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Rays -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Pirates -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -1.5 (+155) | Pirates +1.5 (-190)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -125 | U: -105)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Rays at Pirates picks and predictions

Prediction

Rays 3, Pirates 2

Moneyline

BET RAYS (-105).

Tampa Bay is 3-0 in its last 3 games, while the Pirates are only 1-2. The Rays are also 6-4 in their last 10 games, while Pittsburgh is 5-5. Tampa Bay has won 7 straight games vs. Pittsburgh and is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.

Run line/Against the spread

PASS.

I like the Pirates to cover here, as I don’t see them getting blown out in back-to-back home games vs. Tampa Bay, but the line is too risky to bet on as set at +1.5 (-190). Bet on the moneyline and/or O/U instead.

Over/Under

BET UNDER 8 (-105).

The Under has hit in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 5 games and is 8-2 in its last 10. For Pittsburgh, the Under is also 3-1 in its last 4 home games. The Under has hit in 3 of the last 4 Rays-Pirates matchups in Pittsburgh and is 6-3-1 in the last 10 meetings overall.

Be aware that the Over is 6-4 in Pittsburgh’s last 10 outings.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @payton_shanks on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Fantasy baseball help from BaseballHQ.com:
Subscribe now to dominate the competition.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]