Tuesday, June 24, 2014, 5:10 PM on ROOT, SUN

Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

Pittsburgh Pirates - Locke, J (0-1) vs. Tampa Bay Rays - Archer, C (4-4)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Tuesday night, Jeff Locke takes the hill for the Pittsburgh Pirates as they face Chris Archer and the Tampa Bay Rays.  Locke makes his 5th trip to the hill as Archer makes his 16th.

Jeff Locke didn’t factor in the decision his last time out and that held his record at 0 – 1 with a 3.76 ERA.  Locke went 6 innings in that start and gave up just 2 runs on 3 hits with a walk and 2 strikeouts. It was yet another decent start for Locke that went nowhere due to his offense and the bullpen.  Locke has the ability to post numbers like his did in 2013 when he went 10 - 7 with a 3.52 ERA in 30 starts.

Last season, Locke didn’t face the Rays and in his career, he has only seen 3 of the current Tampa Bay hitters.  The 3 Rays are batting .333 with 3 hits and 2 doubles in 9 at-bats.

Chris Archer evened his record at 4 – 4 with a 3.14 ERA after getting the win in his last outing. In that start, Archer threw 6.2 scoreless innings and allowed just 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8.  If Archer strings together a few more solid outings he will improve on last year, when he was 9 – 7 with a 3.22 ERA in 23 starts.

In 2013, Archer didn’t face the Pirates and he has only opposed 1 of the Pirate hitters in his career. Chris Stewart is 0 for 8 against the young righty.

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)

Josh's Pick: Take Tampa Bay

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