Rays vs Pirates Preview, Odds, Trends, & Free Pick [6/29/17]

Tampa Bay (41-39) at Pittsburgh (36-42)
When: Thursday, June 29th 2017
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: FSN Sun, ROOT Pittsburgh
Opening Odds: Pittsburgh -106/8.5

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The Pittsburgh Pirates look for their second straight series victory when they host the Tampa Bay Rays in the rubber-match of their three-game set on Thursday night. The Pirates have been under .500 since mid-April, but are still hanging around in the wide-open National League Central race – they are four games back heading into Thursday’s MLB action. Pittsburgh recorded four two-out RBIs to even the series with a 6-2 victory on Wednesday night as Josh Bell broke out of his slump. Bell hit a solo homer and scored twice for the Pirates, who are coming off a series win against St. Louis over the weekend. Pirates star Andrew McCutchen was 0-for-2 with two runs scored Wednesday, but is still batting .376 with six homers and 22 RBIs in the month of June. Jameson Taillon makes his fourth start since returning from testicular cancer surgery for the Pirates and will face Tampa Bay ace Chris Archer, who is second in the American League with 126 strikeouts in 104.1 innings. The Rays have dropped three of their last four and left 11 runners on base in Wednesday’s loss, but Corey Dickerson continues to have an All-Star season with three straight two-hit games to increase his major league-best total to 33 multi-hit contests. Tampa Bay’s Logan Morrison remains one homer shy of his career-high (23 in 2011), but has hit safely in nine consecutive games. Rays SS Adeiny Hechavarria is 3-for-6 with a walk and two RBIs in his first two games since being acquired in a trade from Miami.

Pitchers: Rays – Chris Archer (6-4, 3.88 ERA) | Pirates – Jameson Taillon (3-2, 3.33)

Archer earned his sixth victory of the season last time out despite striking out a season-low four batters and allowing five runs over six innings. The Rays supported him with plenty of runs in the 15-5 win over Baltimore. Archer’s ERA has risen each month this season, but he has completed at least six innings in 11 of his last 12 starts. Archer allowed five runs in seven innings of loss in his only start against the Pirates and is 5-6 with a 2.75 ERA in 14 interleague games.

Taillon is 1-1 in three games since returning from the disabled list, allowing six runs in 16 innings while striking out 16 and giving up just one home run. He has allowed just five homers in 51.1 innings this season, is 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA at home while going 2-1 with a 2.70 mark on the road. Taillon faces Tampa Bay for the first time and is 1-1 with a 2.39 ERA in four career interleague contests.

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Taillon has been a terrific story this year, but he has not fared well at PNC Park. Pittsburgh is still near the bottom of Baseball in all offensive categories and have struggled themselves at home recently. Tampa is second in the Majors with 121 homers and I think they can get to Taillon tonight.

Pick: Rays -120

W/L TRENDS

Tampa Bay
  • Rays are 5-1 in their last 6 interleague road games vs. a team with a losing record.
  • Rays are 4-1 in their last 5 interleague road games.
  • Rays are 7-2 in their last 9 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Rays are 10-3 in their last 13 interleague games.
  • Rays are 43-14 in their last 57 interleague games vs. a team with a losing record.
  • Rays are 10-4 in their last 14 vs. National League Central.
  • Rays are 15-6 in their last 21 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Rays are 5-2 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  • Rays are 24-52 in their last 76 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Rays are 5-1 in Archers last 6 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
  • Rays are 5-1 in Archers last 6 starts.
  • Rays are 5-1 in Archers last 6 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.
  • Rays are 8-2 in Archers last 10 Thursday starts.
  • Rays are 7-2 in Archers last 9 interleague starts.
  • Rays are 5-2 in Archers last 7 starts on grass.
  • Rays are 8-18 in Archers last 26 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  • Rays are 7-16 in Archers last 23 starts with 5 days of rest.
Pittsburgh
  • Pirates are 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  • Pirates are 5-11 in their last 16 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Pirates are 3-7 in their last 10 vs. American League East.
  • Pirates are 3-8 in their last 11 interleague games.
  • Pirates are 2-6 in their last 9 Thursday games.
  • Pirates are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Pirates are 0-4 in their last 4 during game 3 of a series.
  • Pirates are 0-5 in their last 5 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Pirates are 9-2 in Taillons last 11 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  • Pirates are 6-2 in Taillons last 8 starts during game 3 of a series.
  • Pirates are 7-3 in Taillons last 10 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  • Pirates are 2-5 in Taillons last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.

OU TRENDS

Tampa Bay
  • Under is 3-0-1 in Rays last 4 road games.
  • Under is 3-0-1 in Rays last 4 on grass.
  • Under is 4-0-1 in Rays last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Under is 4-0 in Rays last 4 interleague road games vs. a team with a losing record.
  • Under is 3-0-1 in Rays last 4 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
  • Under is 6-0 in Rays last 6 interleague road games.
  • Under is 6-1 in Rays last 7 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  • Under is 4-1 in Rays last 5 Thursday games.
  • Under is 3-1-1 in Rays last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Under is 20-7-1 in Rays last 28 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Over is 20-7-1 in Rays last 28 overall.
  • Over is 22-8-1 in Rays last 31 vs. a team with a losing record.
  • Over is 19-7 in Rays last 26 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
  • Over is 19-7 in Rays last 26 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  • Over is 19-7 in Rays last 26 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 8-3-1 in Rays last 12 vs. National League Central.
  • Over is 23-9-1 in Rays last 33 games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Over is 5-2 in Rays last 7 during game 3 of a series.
  • Under is 4-1 in Archers last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
  • Over is 10-3 in Archers last 13 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.
  • Over is 22-8-1 in Archers last 31 starts on grass.
  • Under is 5-2 in Archers last 7 starts during game 3 of a series.
  • Over is 5-2 in Archers last 7 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
  • Over is 5-2 in Archers last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  • Over is 5-2 in Archers last 7 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  • Over is 24-10-1 in Archers last 35 road starts.
Pittsburgh
  • Under is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
  • Under is 4-0-1 in Pirates last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Under is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 home games.
  • Under is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Under is 5-1 in Pirates last 6 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Under is 14-3 in Pirates last 17 Thursday games.
  • Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
  • Over is 8-2-1 in Pirates last 11 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Over is 14-5-1 in Pirates last 20 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Under is 11-4-1 in Pirates last 16 on grass.
  • Under is 11-4-1 in Pirates last 16 overall.
  • Over is 11-4-1 in Pirates last 16 interleague home games.
  • Under is 5-2 in Pirates last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 7-3-1 in Pirates last 11 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 7-3 in Pirates last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Over is 15-7-1 in Pirates last 23 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Over is 3-0-2 in Taillons last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Over is 4-1 in Taillons last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 7-2-2 in Taillons last 11 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
  • Over is 3-1-1 in Taillons last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
  • Over is 3-1-2 in Taillons last 6 home starts.

HEAD TO HEAD

  • Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Pittsburgh.
  • Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.

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