Tampa Bay Rays (11-7) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (11-8) April 17, 2026 6:40 pm EDT The Line: Pittsburgh Pirates -143 / Tampa Bay Rays +119; Over/Under: 8.5 (Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Friday in MLB action from PNC Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates prediction.
The Tampa Bay Rays will start Nick Martinez here and Martinez is 0-0 with a 2.16 ERA and 11 strikeouts this season. In his career, Martinez is 2-1 with a 1.23 ERA and 17 strikeouts against the Pirates. Bubba Chandler will start here for the Pirates and is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA and 14 strikeouts this season. This will be Chandler’s first career start against the Rays.
The Tampa Bay Rays come into this game looking to add on to their 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox last time out to sit at 11-7 this season. After this series, the Rays will head home for a series against the Cincinnati Reds.
Yandy Diaz has 26 hits with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 home runs and 16 RBIs while Chandler Simpson has 24 hits with 2 triples and 4 RBIs. Nick Fortes has 16 hits with 4 doubles, a home run and 7 RBIs and Jonathan Aranda has 15 hits with 4 doubles, 3 homers and 15 RBIs. Junior Caminero’s also added 17 hits with 2 doubles, 4 home runs and 7 RBIs and Ben WIlliamson has 13 hits with 4 doubles and 6 RBIs.
The Pittsburgh Pirates come into this game looking to bounce back from an 8-7 loss at the hands of Washington last time out to sit at 11-8 this season. After this series, the Pirates will head on the road for a series against the Texas Rangers.
Oneil Cruz has 24 hits including 4 doubles, 5 home runs and 17 RBIs while Ryan O’Hearn has 21 hits with 3 doubles, 3 home runs and 13 RBIs this season. Nick Gonzales has 15 hits with 3 doubles and 10 RBIs while Brandon Lowe has 17 hits with 2 doubles, 7 home runs and 16 RBIs and Bryan Reynolds has 19 hits with a double, a triple, 3 home runs and 12 RBIs as well this season.
I’m on the Rays here. I just haven’t loved what I’ve seen from Chandler up to this point despite being one of the more highly-touted prospects in the Pirates system. Tampa Bay continues to find ways to win this season early on despite the bullpen being in shambles, and I think the Rays snag another W here. Give me the Rays.