Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 4/1/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Pittsburgh (+120) Tampa Bay (-144)

The Tampa Bay Rays (2-1) will play the Pittsburgh Pirates (1-3) at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Tuesday. The line on this matchup has the Pirates at +120 while the Rays are priced at -144. The total is set at 9. The pitchers who are expected to start are Paul Skenes and Shane Baz.

As a squad, the Pittsburgh Pirates are putting up 3.5 runs per outing, which is 17th in baseball. They have earned a total of 14 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .317. The Pirates have accounted for 4 doubles as a unit and have knocked 3 baseballs out of the park. They have amassed 13 RBI's in addition to 25 hits for the season, and their team batting average sits at .184. Pittsburgh is slugging .279 and have struck out 36 times, while taking a walk on 25 occasions.

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The Pirates have a team ERA of 3.22 on the campaign (12th in the league), and the staff has struck out 32 batters. Pirates pitchers have relinquished 2 long balls and 16 runs in total (21st in baseball). Their pitching staff has walked 15 hitters and their FIP is 2.99 as a squad on the season. Pittsburgh has relinquished 34 hits (8.5 per 9 innings) as well as 13 earned runs. They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.13 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.36.

The Pirates relievers have recorded a save percentage of 25.0% and has come into the game in 10 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 8 base runners on the season with 25.0% of them crossed the plate. Pirates bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill with players on base 4 times and also have had 14 appearances in high leverage situations. The Pirates have dispatched 17 relief pitchers to the hill this season. The bullpen have 6 holds on the season (3rd in the league). They have recorded 1 save on the season.

The Pirates have transformed 67.5% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 327 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 23rd in baseball. The Pittsburgh Pirates have accumulated 109 putouts on the year, as well as 42 assists and 3 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .981 which puts them in 24th in pro baseball, and have a total of 6 double plays.

Skenes has taken the hill for 133 innings and has accumulated 170 punch outs in his career. Skenes (11-3 career mark) is the owner of a FIP of 1.93 and he has faced 514 opposing batters in the major leagues. His ERA is 1.96 (29 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 0.947. He has surrendered 94 hits (6.4 hits per 9 innings) and has had 32 walks.

The Tampa Bay Rays have compiled an OBP of .349 in addition to a team batting average of .286 so far this year. They have struck out on 19 occasions (29th in MLB) and have totaled 28 hits. Tampa Bay has hit 2 HRs this season as well as 9 runs batted in. The Rays hold a team slugging percentage of .398 and they are recording 3.33 runs per contest (21st in the league). They have put up 5 two-baggers, while taking a walk 9 times as well as putting up 10 runs.

The Rays are sitting with a team WHIP of 0.926 in addition to having a FIP of 1.37 as a unit on the season. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 10.30 (31 strikeouts against 3 bases on balls). They come in at 12th in MLB as a staff in total hits given up with 22. They have conceded 1 dinger and they give up 2.67 runs per 9 innings (7th in the league). The Tampa Bay pitching staff have yielded 8 runs so far this season and come in with a team ERA of 2.33 (7 earned runs surrendered).

Tampa Bay has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 1 save chance and they have recorded 1 save. They are ranked 10th in the league with a save rate of 100.0%, and they have dispatched 9 relief pitchers onto the diamond this year. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 2 times in high leverage situations in addition to 0 occasions with runners on base. Tampa Bay relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 0.0%. Sitting with 2 save situations, the Rays have tallied 1 hold in addition to 0 blown saves.

The Tampa Bay Rays have gotten 1 double play and have accounted for a fielding rate of .990 (17th in MLB). The Rays have accrued 22 assists, 1 error and have accumulated 81 putouts this season. In their 243 innings on the field, the Rays hold a defensive efficiency of 68.9% (21st in baseball).

During his MLB career, Baz has surrendered 90 hits while totaling 117 strikeouts in 119 innings. He has conceded a total of 45 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.082 and a FIP of 3.3. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.00 and he has faced 485 hitters during his MLB career. Baz (7-5 career mark) is the owner of a 3.40 ERA while giving up 6.8 hits per nine innings.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-144)

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