Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 5/2/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Pittsburgh (+190) Tampa Bay (-225)

Tropicana Field is the site where the Tampa Bay Rays (23-6) will compete against the Pittsburgh Pirates (20-9) on Tuesday. The moneyline on this contest has the Pirates at +190 and the Rays are at -225. The total comes in at 9. The expected starting pitchers are Roansy Contreras and Josh Fleming.

Pittsburgh is slugging .449 and have been called out on strikes 229 times, while taking a walk on 113 occasions. They have 148 RBI's and 256 hits so far this year, while their batting average comes in at .264. The Pirates have accrued 62 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 34 balls out of the park. They have racked up 156 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .343. As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are notching 5.4 runs per contest, which is 5th in baseball.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.56 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.30. Pirates pitchers have conceded 23 home runs and 108 runs in total (8th in MLB). Pittsburgh has given up 238 hits (8.3 per 9 innings) as well as 102 earned runs. The Pirates are sitting with a team ERA of 3.55 on the season (7th in MLB), and their staff has rung up 251 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 98 players from the other team and their FIP comes in at 3.81 as a unit so far this season.

The Pirates relief pitchers have earned a save rate of 81.3% and has stepped onto the mound in 42 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 28 base runners so far this year with 21.4% of those runners crossed the plate. Pirates relief pitchers have come into the game with opponents on base 18 times in addition to having 29 appearances in high leverage situations. The Pirates have sent 87 relievers to the mound on the campaign. The relief pitchers have earned 25 holds this year (4th in baseball). They have accumulated 13 saves on the season and have not converted 3 of 16 chances to save the game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a total of 776 putouts thus far, as well as 228 assists and 18 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .982 which has them sitting 26th in MLB, and have accumulated 20 double plays. The Pirates have turned 68.9% of balls hit into play into outs out of 2,328 innings on the field, which ranks them 18th in the majors.

Contreras has taken the mound for 125 innings and has totaled 114 punch outs during his career. His earned run average is 3.65 (51 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.289. He has surrendered 110 base hits (7.9 hits per 9 innings) with 52 walks. Contreras (8-6 career record) has earned a FIP of 4.02 and he has gone up against 536 opposing batters in the major leagues.

Tampa Bay has tallied 61 long balls so far this season and 188 RBIs. They have put up 56 doubles, while taking a walk 94 times and earning 195 runs. The Tampa Bay Rays have a team OBP of .351 as well as a batting average of .281 on the year. The Rays hold a slugging % of .528 and they average 6.72 runs per contest (1st in the league). They have struck out on 248 occasions (17th in baseball) and have recorded 282 hits.

The Tampa Bay pitching staff have conceded 92 runs this season while holding an ERA of 3.10 (89 earned runs allowed). They have allowed 19 dingers and they surrender 3.21 runs per 9 innings (1st in the league). The Rays have a WHIP of 1.108 in addition to having a FIP of 3.60 as a team for the year. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 8.80 (252 strikeouts against 88 walks). They are sitting at 2nd in MLB as a staff in total hits given up with 198.

Tampa Bay has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the game in 7 save chances and they have earned 5 saves. They are ranked 9th in the league holding a save percentage of 71.4%, and they have dispatched 90 relievers to the mound this year. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 18 times in high leverage situations and also on 17 occasions with runners on. Tampa Bay relievers hold an inherited score rate of 32.3% out of 31 inherited base runners. With 17 save situations, the Rays have compiled 10 holds in addition to 2 blown saves.

In their 2,328 innings on the diamond, the Rays have earned a defensive efficiency of 72.7% (1st in professional baseball). The Tampa Bay Rays have gotten 24 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .990 (7th in pro baseball). The Rays have recorded 273 assists, 11 errors and have a tally of 776 putouts so far this year.

Fleming (17-13 career record) has earned a 4.76 ERA and has allowed 9.9 hits per nine innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.36 and he has faced 826 opposing hitters during his MLB career. He has allowed 101 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.398 and a FIP of 4.2. During his career, Fleming has given up 211 base hits while totaling 132 K's in 191 frames.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+190)

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