Wednesday, June 25, 2014, 10:10 AM on SUN

Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

Pittsburgh Pirates - Morton, C (4-8) vs. Tampa Bay Rays - Price, D (5-7)

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Wednesday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates will send Charlie Morton to the hill to take on the Tampa Bay Rays and David Price. Morton makes his 16th start as Price makes his 17th.

Charlie Morton took the loss his last time out and that lowered his record to 4 – 8 with a 3.47 ERA.  In the loss, Morton gave up 6 runs on 8 hits (including 2 homers) as he walked 2 and struck out 6.  Prior to the loss, Morton had won 3 in a row.  Morton might just barely match his results from 2013 when he went 7 – 4 with a 3.26 ERA in 20 starts.

Last season, Morton didn’t face the Rays and he has only faced 4 of the Tampa Bay hitters before.  The 4 hitters have a combined .217 average against Morton with 5 hits, 2 homers and 5 RBIs in 23 at-bats.

David Price dropped his last start and that sent his record to 5 – 7 with a 3.81 ERA. In that outing, Price gave up 2 runs on 6 hits (including a homer) in 8 innings of work. He walked 3 while striking out 12.  Price’s decent outing was wasted by a lack of run support. At this rate, Price will probably match his results from last season when he went 10 – 8 with a 3.33 ERA in 27 starts.

Last season, Price didn’t face the Pirates but he has faced many of the Pittsburgh hitters in the past.  Pittsburgh is batting .259 against Price with 15 hits and 6 RBIs in 58 at-bats.

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

Pittsburgh Pirates are 33-36-6 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Pittsburgh Pirates is -0.2

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

Tampa Bay Rays are 37-37-3 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Tampa Bay Rays is -0.5

Injuries to Watch

Pittsburgh Pirates

06/21/14 LF Starling Marte Personal expected to miss the next 2 games
06/11/14 P Francisco Liriano Side 15-day DL (6/11)
06/09/14 P Gerrit Cole Shoulder 15-day DL (6/4)
06/09/14 2B Neil Walker Appendix 15-day DL (6/9

Tampa Bay Rays

06/19/14 LF David DeJesus Hand 15-day DL (6/19)
06/01/14 RF Wil Myers Wrist 15-day DL (5/31)
04/08/14 P Matt Moore Elbow 60-day DL (4/8), out for season
03/30/14 2B Tim Beckham Knee 60-day DL (3/30)
03/28/14 P Jeremy Hellickson Elbow 15-day DL (3/30)

Tony's Pick: Take Tampa Bay

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