Rays vs Pirates Picks and Prediction – 6/21/2024

By: David Anicetti |

Last Updated: 06/20/2024 at 1:14 PM ET

Tampa Bay Rays at Pittsburgh Pirates 06/21/24 - MLB Picks & Predictions
Game Start: 6/21/2024, 10:40 PM UTC
Latest Odds: N/A

The Tampa Bay Rays open a three-game interleague series on the road Friday versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tampa Bay is 35-29 and defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-2 on Wednesday. Tampa Bay will complete a three-game series with Minnesota on Thursday. The Rays are fourth in the American League East, 15 games behind the first-place New York Yankees. Make sure you stay up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

Isaac Paredes is batting .286 to lead Tampa Bay and has team-highs in home runs with 11, in RBI with 39, and in on-base percentage of .368. Yandy Diaz is the leader in hits with 76. Tampa Bay has a team batting average of .232 and a slugging percentage of .357. On Friday, Tampa Bay will send Ryan Pepiot to the mound. The right-hander is 4-4 with a 4.57 ERA, 72 Ks and 19 BBs.

The Pittsburgh Pirates improved to 36-38 following a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Pittsburgh's Bryan Reynolds hit a home run in the bottom of the 8th inning for the only run of the game. The Pirates have won three of the last four and have a day off on Thursday. Pittsburgh is third in the National League Central, eight games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. 

Bryan Reynolds is batting .274 to lead Pittsburgh and is the leader in RBI with 40, hits with 82 and an on-base percentage of .340. Andrew McCutchen is the leader in home runs with 10. Pittsburgh is batting .230 with a .361 slugging percentage. Pittsburgh has not announced its starting pitcher for Friday's opening game of a three-game series at home versus Tampa Bay.

Rays vs Pirates Prediction

Rays vs Pirates Pick Analysis

Betting Trends for Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays

Rays

Tampa Bay is 4-8 in its last 12
The OVER has cashed in 4 of the Ray’s last 5

Pirates

Pittsburgh is 14-7 in its last 21 in June
The UNDER has cashed in 8 of the Pirates’ last 9

Our Free MLB Pick for Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh has won 14 of the last 17 played in June, while Tampa Bay has lost eight of its last 12 overall. Tampa Bay struggles to score runs as the Rays are 25th and Tampa Bay is also 25th in team ERA. Tampa Bay starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot has been hit hard in each of the last three outings, allowing 12 runs across 16 ⅔ innings. Over that stretch, Pepiot has served up six home runs. Final Score Prediction, Pittsburgh Pirates win 6-3.