Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 4/2/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Pittsburgh (+220) Tampa Bay (-275)

George M. Steinbrenner Field is the location where the Tampa Bay Rays (3-1) will attempt to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates (1-4) on Wednesday. The odds on this game have Pittsburgh at +220 while Tampa Bay is coming in at -275. The total is set at 8. The men taking the mound are Paul Skenes and Ryan Pepiot.

The Pirates have hit 5 two-baggers as a team and have knocked 3 baseballs out of the stadium. Pittsburgh has a slugging % of .257 and have been rung up 46 times, while being walked on 25 occasions. As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are notching 3.0 runs per game, which puts them at 24th in MLB. They have 14 runs batted in in addition to 29 base knocks for the year, while their batting average is sitting at .174. They have accounted for 15 runs scored and hold an OBP of .287.

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The Pirates hold a team earned run average of 3.86 over the course of the season (15th in baseball), and their staff has struck out 42 hitters. Pirates pitchers have conceded 2 home runs in addition to 22 runs (18th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 20 players from the other team and their FIP sits at 3.05 as a unit this season. Pittsburgh has surrendered 44 hits (9.0 per 9 innings) and 19 earned runs. They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.10 and the pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.45.

The Pirates have dispatched 20 relief pitchers to the mound this year. The relievers have inherited 11 base runners so far this season and 18.2% of those runners ended up crossing the plate. They have compiled 1 save for the year and have blown 3 of 4 chances to get a save. The Pirates relief pitchers have a save rate of 25.0% and has entered the game in 10 save situations. The relievers have a total of 6 holds on the season (4th in the league). Pirates pitchers have stepped onto the hill with opponents on base 6 times in addition to having 14 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have accumulated 133 putouts over the course of the season, as well as 48 assists and 3 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .984 which has them sitting 22nd in the majors, and have a total of 7 double plays. The Pirates have transformed 65.5% of balls hit into play into outs out of 399 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting at 29th in MLB.

Skenes (11-3 career win-loss mark) is the owner of a FIP of 1.93 and he has gone up against 514 opposing hitters in the major leagues. He has surrendered 94 base knocks (6.4 hits per 9 innings) and has 32 free passes. His ERA is 1.96 (29 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 0.947. Skenes has thrown 133 frames and has 170 K's during his pro baseball career.

The Tampa Bay Rays have a team on-base percentage of .361 as well as a batting average of .292 over the course of the season. They have struck out on 29 occasions (23rd in the league) and have 38 base knocks. Tampa Bay has tallied 2 long balls this season and 15 runs batted in. The Rays hold a slugging % of .408 and they are scoring 4.00 runs per game (17th in MLB). They have 9 doubles, while getting a free base 14 times as well as putting up 16 runs.

The Rays have a WHIP of 0.806 and have a FIP of 1.37 as a squad for the season. They are currently ranked 9th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 26. The Tampa Bay pitching staff have relinquished 9 runs so far this season while having an ERA of 2.00 (8 earned runs relinquished). They currently have a strikeout to walk ratio of 10.30 (41 strikeouts against 3 bases on balls). They have conceded 1 long ball and they allow 2.25 runs per 9 innings (3rd in the league).

Sitting with 2 save situations, the Rays have 1 hold in addition to 0 blown saves. Tampa Bay has had bullpen pitchers enter the game in 1 save opportunity and they have tallied 1 save. Their relievers have come in 2 times in high leverage situations and on 0 occasions with runners on. Tampa Bay bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 0.0%. They sit at 9th in baseball holding a save percentage of 100.0%, and they have sent 12 relievers onto the field so far this year.

The Tampa Bay Rays have turned 1 double play and have notched a fielding percentage of .993 (12th in professional baseball). The Rays have racked up 31 assists, 1 error and are sitting with 108 putouts so far this season. Out of their 324 innings on the diamond, the Rays have accumulated a efficiency on defense of 71.7% (13th in the majors).

During his MLB career, Pepiot has surrendered 155 hits while he has tallied 222 K's in 208 innings. He has allowed 76 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.129 and a FIP of 3.2. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.78 and he has faced 858 hitters so far in his MLB career. Pepiot (13-9 career record) has earned a 3.29 earned run average while giving up 6.7 hits per nine innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-275)

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