The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Tampa Bay Rays on April 17, 2026. First pitch from PNC Park is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on Apple TV+.
The Pirates are favored by -135 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Rays are +114 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8.5 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Rays vs Pirates prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Rays vs Pirates Prediction
- Rays vs Pirates Pick: Rays Moneyline
My Rays vs Pirates best bet is on Tampa Bay to win. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Rays vs Pirates Odds
| Rays Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 +152 | 8.5 -105o / -115u | +114 |
| Pirates Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -185 | 8.5 -105o / -115u | -135 |
- Rays vs Pirates moneyline: Rays +114, Pirates -135
- Rays vs Pirates over/under: 8.5 (-105o / -115u)
- Rays vs Pirates spread: Pirates -1.5 (+152 ), Rays +1.5 (-185)
Rays vs Pirates Probable Pitchers
| Nick Martinez | Stat | Bubba Chandler |
|---|---|---|
| 11-7 | W-L | 11-8 |
| 0.1 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | -0.1 |
| 2.16 / 4.24 | ERA / xERA | 3.86 / 5.61 |
| 4.91 / 4.47 | FIP / xFIP | 5.60 / 5.51 |
| 0.96 | WHIP | 1.57 |
| 10.6 | K-BB% | 3.2 |
| 41.2 | GB% | 36.1 |
| 103 | Stuff+ | 105 |
| 109 | Location+ | 101 |
Rays vs Pirates MLB Betting Preview
Our own Sean Zerillo projects a decent edge on the Tampa Bay Rays in this interleague matchup.
While the consensus moneyline for Tampa Bay is currently sitting at +114, Zerillo's model projects the fair odds at +100. This discrepancy represents a 3.2% edge against the current market price.
Rays vs Pirates Pick, Betting Analysis
The Rays continue to be a model of efficiency, often finding value in areas that traditional markets overlook, such as defensive positioning and baserunning metrics. Despite the Pirates’ home-field advantage at PNC Park, the underlying data suggests the Rays' pitching depth—particularly a bullpen that consistently ranks near the top of the league in Pitching+ and xFIP—gives them the upper hand in a tight contest.
Historically, the Rays have thrived as road underdogs, and Zerillo’s projections indicate that the public might be giving too much credit to the local side, creating a clear entry point for value seekers on the Tampa Bay moneyline.
My Rays vs. Pirates best bet is on the visitors' moneyline. As noted above, the model sees significant value here. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page, but I would feel comfortable backing Tampa Bay.
Pick: Rays Moneyline
