Pirates vs Rays Prediction 4/18/26 MLB Picks Today

In this article we will formulate a Pirates vs Rays prediction for this MLB game on Saturday, April 18th at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup. 

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 12-8 this season after they won game one in this series by a score of 5-1 on Friday night. Pittsburgh allowed the tying run in the sixth inning, but they answered with the last four runs to get the win. The Pirates recorded 11 hits in the game and they were led by Cruz and Lowe, who both had two RBIs. Chandler allowed three hits and one earned run over 6.0 innings for the win, while Montgomery and Soto picked up holds. Prior to this series, Pittsburgh split four games with the Nationals and won two out of three against the Cubs. 

This season, Pittsburgh has a 3.16 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP and a .218 opponent batting average, while they have scored 100 runs with a .255 batting average and a .346 on base percentage. Oneil Cruz has led the Pirates with six home runs and 19 RBIs, while Brandon Lowe has added seven home runs and 18 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Paul Skenes, who is 3-1 with a 4.00 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP over 18.0 innings pitched this season. 

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays are 11-8 this year after they dropped game one to start this series on Friday. Tampa Bay didn’t manage very much at the plate and only scored in the sixth inning in the loss. The Rays recorded five hits in the game and they were led by Caminero, who went 1-4 with one RBI. Martinez allowed eight hits and two earned runs over 5.1 innings for the loss, while Gomez allowed two earned runs in relief. Prior to this series, Tampa Bay swept the White Sox in three games and the Yankees in three games. 

This season, Tampa Bay has a 4.44 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP and a .229 opponent batting average, while they have scored 92 runs with a .259 batting average and a .335 on base percentage. Yandy Diaz has led the Rays with three home runs and 16 RBIs, while Jonathan Aranda has added three home runs and 15 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Tampa Bay is Drew Rasmussen, who is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA and a 0.56 WHIP over 16.0 innings pitched this year. 

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Pirates have won each of their last six games against American League opponents.
• The Rays have lost 14 of their last 16 day games following a road loss.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in each of their last eight games against American League opponents.
• The Rays have failed to cover the run line in 12 of their last 13 day games following a loss.
• The Pirates have led after 3 innings in seven of their last eight home games against American League opponents.
• The Pirates have won the first inning in three of their last four day games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Pirates have led after 5 innings in each of their last four games as favorites against American League opponents.

Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win

• The Pirates have lost each of their last three games as favorites following a win.
• The Rays have won three of their last four games as underdogs.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven Saturday games as home favorites against American League opponents.
• The Rays have covered the run line in six of their last seven games.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the last six games between the Rays and Pirates have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Eight of the Rays’ last nine day games against National League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Pirates’ last seven Saturday games.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in five of the Rays’ last six road games.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Oneil Cruz has hit at least one home run in each of the Pirates’ last three games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Oneil Cruz has recorded at least one hit in each of the Pirates’ last 10 day games.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Yandy Diaz has hit a home run in three of the Rays’ last five games as underdogs against NL opponents.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances in day games.
• Drew Rasmussen has recorded five or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances in day games against teams that held a winning record.

Pirates vs Rays Prediction 

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup playing very well to start the season and they have scored 5+ runs in three of their last five games. The Pirates are 7-4 at home this year, while the Rays are 7-6 on the road. Tampa Bay had their winning streak snapped on Friday, but they have scored 5+ in four of their last five. Both of these starters are very good and I expect a very low scoring matchup, so I like the under in this one.