The Tampa Bay Rays (37-40) travel to face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (37-39) on Sunday, June 23rd. This game will be played at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and televised on BSSUN. The Pirates are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Rays are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Pirates. First pitch is set for 12:35 CT.
Rays vs Pirates
Pittsburgh picked up a 4-3 win over the Rays in the most recent game of this series. The Pirates had a three-run 3rd inning and scored the game’s go-ahead run in the 9th. As for the Rays, they scored one run in the 1st inning and didn’t score another run until putting up the game’s final run in the 9th.
Jared Jones started for the Pirates and picked up the win, going seven innings and giving up two earned runs. He finished the game with eight strikeouts but issued three walks. As for the Rays, Zach Eflin got the start and took the loss, giving up four earned runs in seven innings of work.
Oneil Cruz hit the game’s only home run while going 1/3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Richie Palacios did a bit of everything for the Rays, going 2/3 with an RBI and a stolen base.
Tampa Bay is 37-40 overall and 14.0 games behind the Yankees in the AL East. So far, they are just 10-17 in AL East matchups. The Rays will be on the road today vs. the Pirates, and they are 5-5 over their last 10 games.
At home, the Rays are 19-23 this year and have gone 18-17 on the road. This season, they have been the favorite in 42 games, going 22-20 in those matchups. As for their games as the underdog, they are 15-20, which includes an 10-11 mark as the road underdog.
When the Tampa Bay Rays are on the road, they are a good bet against the run line, as they are 21-14 this season. They have covered the run line in six straight road games and are 19-16 against the run line as the underdog. Their average run margin in winning games is +2.4, while their average run margin in losing games is -3.8.
When the Tampa Bay Rays are on the road this season, the over/under line has been set at 7.5 runs 53 times, and the over has hit in 13 of those games. The combined run average in those games has been 8.8 runs per game, and the Rays’ over/under record for the season is 40-35.
Aaron Civale Gets The Start For The Rays
The Rays are sending right-hander Aaron Civale to the mound today as he faces the Pirates on the road. He has made 15 starts this year and has a record of 2-5 with an ERA of 5.42. Opposing batters are hitting .272 this season off Civale, and he has a WHIP of 1.39. Looking back at his last outing, Civale finished with a no-decision, giving up four earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of work. Before that, he had put together two straight outings in which he allowed just one earned run. Civale has given up at least one homer in three straight outings.
Rays Offense Breakdown
Yandy Diaz has been one of the Rays’ top offensive performers this season, as he is batting .265 for the season and has gone 11/37 in his last eight games. He also has a team-high 35 RBIs and is currently on a 15-game hitting streak. Isaac Paredes has been the Rays’ top power hitter, as his 11 home runs are 1st on the team and 14th in the league. He also has a team-high 39 RBIs and is batting .283 overall.
As a team, the Rays are averaging 4 runs per game, which is 25th in the league. They have been even worse at home, averaging just 3.7 runs per game. Overall, they are batting .234, which is 15th in the league, and have the 20th ranked slugging percentage in the MLB.
Pittsburgh is 37-39 overall and trail the Brewers by 6.5 games in the NL Central. They are 10-10 against other teams in the NL Central. The Pirates are looking to pick up a win today, as they are just 5-5 over their last 10 games.
The Pirates have won four straight games as the favorite, and they are 15-17 when favored this year. As the home favorite, Pittsburgh is 9-11 this year. They are an even 18-19 on the road compared to 19-19 at home. So far, they have an overall series record of 10-10-4, and they have won two straight series.
The Pirates have a run line record of 41-35 this season, including a 19-19 mark at home. They have an average run margin of -0.4 runs per game this season, and their average run margin in winning games is +2.9 runs per game. They are 30-14 against the run line as an underdog this season.
The Pirates have played in 55 games with over/under lines set higher than today’s 7.5, which is 72.4% of their games. Their average over/under line is 8 runs, and their over/under record is 36-39. Their games have averaged 8.5 runs per game, and their over/under record when the line is set at 7.5 is 5-9.
Paul Skenes Gets The Start For The Pirates
Through seven starts, Paul Skenes has yet to lose a game for the Pirates. He is 4-0 with an ERA of 2.29 and WHIP of .99. Skenes has made five quality starts this year, and his ERA at home is 3.79 compared to 1.0 on the road. In his last outing, he gave up just one earned run in six innings of work, coming away with the win. Skenes has been especially tough at home, as he has a record of 2-0 and the Pirates have won all four of his home starts. Overall, Pittsburgh is 6-1 in games started by Skenes.
Pirates Offense Breakdown
So far this season, the Pirates are averaging just 4 runs per game, which is 24th in the league. They have been slightly better on the road (4.2 runs/gm) compared to at home (3.8 runs/gm). Overall, they are batting just .228, and their team on-base percentage is just .297, both of which are near the bottom of the league rankings. One positive note for the Pirates is that they have the 11th best BABIP in the league.
Leading the Pirates in home runs this season is Bryan Reynolds, who has gone deep 11 times and is batting .271. Reynolds has been even hotter of late, going 9/27 in his last seven games, with two homers and four RBIs. He also comes into the game on a 19-game hitting streak. Oneil Cruz and Andrew McCutchen are also tied for 2nd on the team with 10 homers.
Rays vs Pirates Prediction
Getting the Rays at +137 on the money line is a great value pick for today’s Rays vs. Pirates matchup. Our predicted final score is 5-4 in favor of the Rays, giving us a solid payout if you take the Rays to win outright.
Looking at some of the projections, Paul Skenes is predicted to finish with seven strikeouts, which is the third-best among all starters today. As for Aaron Civale, he is projected to finish with five K’s, which has him ranked 17th among starters.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
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Last updated:June 24, 2024 Pirates, Rays