The Tampa Bay Rays and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Saturday in MLB action from PNC Park. Here’s a Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays prediction. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Rays’ last series was versus the Minnesota Twins. Tampa Bay split the first two games 7-6 (loss) and 3-2 (win) before a 7-6 victory in the Thursday finale. On Friday versus the Pirates, the Rays cruised to a 10-3 win.
In the starter role for Saturday’s game, the Rays will send out Zach Eflin. This year Eflin is 3-4 with a 4.12 ERA in 13 starts. He has 57 Ks in 74.1 innings total. Eflin is 55-57 with a 4.27 ERA in 171 career games (159 starts).
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, they played the Cincinnati Reds this week. Pittsburgh won 4-1 in the opener Monday before a 2-1 loss in game two. The Pirates took the series with a 1-0 win in the finale. On Friday the Pirates coughed up 17 hits in the blowout loss.
As starting pitcher for Saturday’s game, the Pirates are going with Jared Jones. In his rookie season Jones is 4-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 14 starts. Jones has 85 Ks in 79.0 innings.
Pirates vs Rays Pick Injury Notes
Pirates RP Ryan Borucki (wrist) was set to throw live batting practice Friday.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Rays’ last six road games against National League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Nine of the Pirates’ last 10 games as favorites against AL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Pirates’ last seven games as favorites against AL East opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last five games against NL Central opponents.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Rowdy Tellez has hit at least one home run in three of his last four appearances against the Rays after playing the previous day.
- Rowdy Tellez has recorded at least one Double in each of the Pirates’ last three games as home favorites.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Pirates’ last six games as home favorites.
- Bryan Reynolds has scored a run in each of the Pirates’ last six games as home favorites.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Pirates’ last seven home games.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded at least one Single in each of his last eight appearances against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Isaac Paredes has hit a home run in each of the Rays’ last two day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Randy Arozarena has recorded a Double in each of the Rays’ last three games.
- Randy Arozarena has recorded an RBI in each of the Rays’ last four day games.
- Zach Eflin has recorded five or more strikeouts in five of his last six appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Brandon Lowe has scored at least one run in each of his last seven road appearances against NL opponents.
- Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Single in each of the Rays’ last five games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Randy Arozarena has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last 11 road games.
- Amed Rosario has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 10 road appearances after playing the previous day.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction
I’ll lean toward the Rays. Eflin has been okay over his last few starts but doesn’t have any wins to show for it. In that trio Eflin has seven earned runs in 15.1 innings total on 17 hits and one walk without a decision. He should be okay here if all goes well, and could finally get a W if the bats help out.
On Friday the Rays had a pretty excellent evening at the plate. Josh Lowe had two homers, four RBI and three hits. Ben Rortvedt added another three hits and three RBI. I like Tampa Bay to keep it going.