Pittsburgh Pirates (20-9) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (24-5)
May 3, 2023 6:40 pm EDT
The Line: Tampa Bay Rays -210 / Pittsburgh Pirates +180 ; Over/Under: 7
(Get latest betting odds)
The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Wednesday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. In the Tuesday opener, the Rays posted a three-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh played the Nationals over the weekend, winning the first pair before a Sunday loss 7-2. On Tuesday versus Tampa Bay, The Pirates briefly had the game tied 1-1 but ended up falling 4-1. Starter Roansy Contreras put up 5.1 innings with four earned on six hits and four walks.
For the starter job in the Wednesday matchup, Pittsburgh is sending out Mitch Keller. In six starts so far Keller is 3-0 with a 3.53 ERA and 40 Ks in 35.2 innings. Keller has a career record of 15-29 with a 4.86 ERA in 76 games (74 starts).
Tampa Bay Rays
Over on the Tampa Bay side, they took on the White Sox over the weekend and won three of the four games. On Tuesday the Rays out-hit the Pirates 6-5. Josh Fleming did most of the pitching on 3.1 innings, one earned, two hits and three walks.
Shane McClanahan will take the mound for the starter job on Wednesday. In his six starts so far McClanahan is 5-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 42 Ks in 34.0 innings. In his career McClanahan is 27-14 with a 2.84 ERA in 59 starts.
The Pirates are 19-7 in their last 26 overall and 6-13 in their last 19 versus the AL East. Pittsburgh is 23-50 in their last 73 Wednesday games.
Meanwhile, the Rays are 7-2 in their last nine in game two of a series and 17-5 in their last 22 versus a right-handed starter. Tampa Bay is 40-15 in their last 55 at home.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’m staying with the Rays. McClanahan has had a remarkable start so far over six games, and he shouldn’t have too much trouble taming the Pirates lineup. McClanahan is 2-0 with five earned over 17.0 innings on 12 hits and five walks over his last three games. On Tuesday the Rays got a great pitching outing from seven different players and didn’t have a ton of trouble overall. I don’t think the Pirates will have the firepower to overcome Tampa Bay in game two either.
