mlb Preview< BACK

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Tampa Bay Rays will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at Tropicana Field in an interleague contest.

The Pirates will pin their hopes on the pitching of right hander Vince Velasquez in this game. Velasquez has a 4-2 record and a 3.06 ERA this season.

Velasquez's opponent in this one will be Zach Eflin. The Rays right hander has a 3.00 ERA to go along with a 3-0 record this season.

Oddsmakers opened the Rays as -182-moneyline favorites versus the Pirates, while the game's total opened at 7.5.

Pittsburgh:
Team record: 20-10 SU
Pittsburgh is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Pittsburgh is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games

Tampa Bay:
Team record: 24-6 SU
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 games at home
Tampa Bay is 15-2 SU in its last 17 games at home

Next up:
Pittsburgh home to Toronto Friday, May 5
Tampa Bay home to New York Friday, May 5