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)
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.
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