Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays Pick – 4/1/2025

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

On April 1, 2025, the Tampa Bay Rays will host the Pittsburgh Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field for the second game of their series. The Rays, currently sitting at 3-1 this season, have been enjoying a strong start, while the Pirates struggle with a 1-4 record, marking a disappointing beginning to their campaign. In their last matchup, the Rays emerged victorious, further solidifying their position as a competitive force early in the season.

Tampa Bay is projected to start Shane Baz, a right-handed pitcher ranked as the 129th best starting pitcher in MLB, which indicates he is below average. However, Baz has the potential to outperform expectations against a struggling Pirates offense. Pittsburgh is currently ranked 28th in MLB for offensive performance, which highlights their struggles to generate runs.

The Pirates will counter with Dauri Moreta, who also throws right-handed. Moreta's projections suggest he will pitch an average of just 1.0 innings, allowing 0.5 earned runs, 0.9 hits, and 0.4 walks. These metrics indicate a tough outing ahead, especially against a Rays lineup that has seen their best hitter maintain a .556 batting average and a 1.583 OPS over the last week.

As the Rays look to capitalize on the Pirates' offensive woes, the projections favor Tampa Bay significantly. With the Pirates' bullpen also ranked 25th in MLB, it could be a long day for Pittsburgh if they cannot provide adequate support for Moreta. Expect Tampa Bay to leverage their home-field advantage and continue their strong start to the season.

• Date: April 1, 2025
• Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field
• Starting Pitchers:
  • Dauri Moreta - Pirates
  • Shane Baz - Rays

Check out all our free picks on every MLB game daily in our MLB betting section.