Pittsburgh Pirates at Tampa Bay Rays 6/26/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Pittsburgh Pirates conclude a three-game interleague series on the road Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Pittsburgh is 29-41 following its 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay in the opening game of the series on Friday. The Pirates have lost two out of the last three and Pittsburgh is third in the National League Central, 9 ½ games behind co-leaders St Louis and Milwaukee.

Ke’Bryan Hayes is batting .264 to lead Pittsburgh and the third baseman has a team high .340 on-base percentage. Left fielder Bryan Reynolds is the leader in home runs with 12 and hits with 64, while second baseman Michael Chavis is the leader in RBIs with 25. On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Pirates will send Roansy Contreras to the mound. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA, 38 Ks and 14 BBs.

Tampa Bay improved to 38-32 following its one-run victory over Pittsburgh on Friday. Harold Ramirez hit a 10th inning RBI-single to give Tampa Bay the walk-off victory. Tampa Bay has won two out of the last three but the Rays are fourth in the American League East, 13 ½ games behind the first place New York Yankees.

Yandy Diaz is batting .258 to lead Tampa Bay and the first baseman has a team-high .380 on-base percentage. Shortstop Isaac Paredes is the leader in home runs with nine, while first baseman Ji-Man Choi is the leader in RBIs with 34. Right fielder Randy Arozarena is the leader in hits with 65. On Sunday, Tampa Bay will send Shane McClanahan to the mound. The left-hander is 7-3 with a 1.81 ERA, 113 Ks and 16 BBs.