Tampa Bay Rays vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 6/22/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Rays vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Pirates (36-38) host the Tampa Bay Rays (35-39) at PNC Park on Saturday. The expected starting pitchers are Zach Eflin and Jared Jones.

Tampa Bay has a slugging % of .357 and have been called out on strikes 667 times, while drawing a walk on 233 occasions. They have accounted for 267 runs batted in in addition to 572 hits so far this season, while their batting average sits at .232. The Rays have recorded 109 two-baggers as a team and have smacked 61 balls out of the park. They have earned 288 runs scored and have an OBP of .307. As a squad, the Tampa Bay Rays are knocking in 3.9 runs per game, which has them at 26th in MLB.

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The Rays have a team earned run average of 4.42 on the year (25th in the league), and their staff has struck out 642 hitters. Rays pitchers have allowed 102 home runs in addition to 359 runs in total (25th in baseball). They have walked 206 opposing hitters and their FIP comes in at 4.29 as a unit over the course of the season. Tampa Bay has allowed 651 base hits (8.8 per 9 innings) in addition to 328 earned runs. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 3.12 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.28.

The Rays relievers have earned a save rate of 60.5% and stepped onto the hill in 83 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 83 base runners for the year with 31.3% of those runners ended up crossing the plate. Rays pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 59 times in addition to having 111 appearances in high leverage situations. The Rays have sent 252 relief pitchers to the mound for the season. The bullpen have 43 holds so far this year (12th in baseball). They have recorded 23 saves for the season and have blown 15 of their 38 chances to save the game.

The Rays have turned 69.2% of balls hit into play into outs in their 6,006 innings, which ranks them 23rd in baseball. The Tampa Bay Rays have accounted for 2,002 putouts for the season, in addition to 563 assists and 39 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .985 which has them ranked 13th in MLB, and they have turned 49 double plays.

Eflin has taken the mound for 910 innings and has totaled 795 K's during his pro baseball career. His ERA is 4.27 (432 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.234. He has given up 934 base knocks (9.2 hits per 9 innings) and has had 189 free passes. Eflin (55-57 mark in his career) holds a FIP of 4.21 and he has faced 3,818 batters in the majors.

Pittsburgh has knocked in 68 home runs for the season to go along with 288 RBIs. They have notched 108 two-baggers, while walking 234 times as well as scoring 299 runs. The Pittsburgh Pirates have tallied an on-base percentage of .298 and a batting average of .230 on the year. The Pirates hold a team slugging % of .360 and they score 4.04 runs per contest (22nd in baseball). They have struck out on 707 occasions (4th in the league) and have totaled 578 base hits.

The Pirates have a WHIP of 1.271 and have a FIP of 3.96 as a squad for the year. They rank 20th in MLB as a staff in total hits surrendered with 618. The Pittsburgh pitching staff have given up 324 runs for the year and come in with a team ERA of 3.91 (288 earned runs surrendered). Their K/BB ratio sits at 8.50 (627 strikeouts vs 225 bases on balls). They have given up 78 home runs and they relinquish 4.40 runs per 9 innings (16th in baseball).

Pittsburgh relievers have an inherited score percentage of 32.0% out of their 100 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 92 times in high leverage situations and on 67 occasions with runners on base. With 75 save situations, the Pirates have earned 38 holds and 15 blown saves. They rank 23rd in baseball with a save percentage of 58.3%, and they have dispatched 232 bullpen pitchers onto the field so far this year. Pittsburgh has had relievers enter the contest in 36 save opportunities and they have recorded 21 saves.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 56 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .985 (17th in the majors). The Pirates have accrued 626 assists, 41 errors and have 1,990 putouts during this campaign. Out of their 5,970 innings on the field, the Pirates have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 69.4% (19th in pro baseball).

During his MLB career, Jones has surrendered 67 base knocks while totaling 85 punch outs in 79 frames. Jones (4-6 record in his career) has a 3.76 ERA and has conceded 7.6 hits per 9 innings. He has conceded 33 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.127 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.7. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.86 and he has gone up against 323 batters so far in his pro baseball career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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