Tampa Bay Rays vs Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Betting Prediction
PublishedMarch 31, 2025,            Posted By: Maria Uebelhor
Last updated:March 31, 2025 ,

MLB Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction 3/31

The Pittsburgh Pirates will take on the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Monday, March 31, 2025. The game is scheduled for a 7:05 PM start under the night sky. Both teams are gearing up for the new season, looking to build on their spring training performances.

Pirates vs. Rays Betting Prediction

  • Money Line Prediction: Rays MoneyLine: -178. The Rays have a better start to the regular season with a 2-1 record and strong pitching stats. Their batting average and ERA are also better than the Pirates.
  • Over/Under Prediction: Under 8.0 (-106). Both teams have shown solid pitching early in the season, with the Rays having a 2.33 ERA and the Pirates at 3.22. This suggests a lower scoring game.

Team Trends

  • The Pittsburgh Pirates started the regular season with a record of 1-3, and they are 2 games back in the NL Central.
  • In spring training, the Pirates had a record of 14-15, showing some improvement from last season’s regular season record of 76-86.
  • The Tampa Bay Rays began the regular season with a record of 2-1, placing them 1 game back in the AL East.
  • During spring training, the Rays had a record of 12-13, which is slightly below their last season’s regular season record of 80-82.
  • In a spring training game against the Miami Marlins, Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen hit a home run and had 1 RBI.

Pirates vs Rays Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to play against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The game will begin at 7:05 PM on Monday, March 31, 2025. Both teams are eager to make a strong start to the season after their spring training performances.

Carmen Mlodzinski will take the mound for the Pirates. He has shown solid pitching in recent games, with a mix of starts and relief appearances. The Rays will counter with Drew Rasmussen, who has also been active in spring training. Rasmussen has demonstrated good control in his outings, making this matchup an interesting one to watch.

Rays Ready for Regular Season Action

The Tampa Bay Rays have started the regular season with solid performances. Brandon Lowe has been consistent in the lineup. He has a .308 batting average and one home run in three games. Jonny DeLuca is off to a strong start as well, with a .444 batting average. Jonathan Aranda is making an impact for the Rays this season. He has a .500 batting average and one RBI in three games. The team overall has a .286 batting average and has hit two home runs so far. Drew Rasmussen is expected to contribute to the Rays’ pitching. In spring training, he had a 2.33 ERA and 31 strikeouts. The Rays’ pitching staff has been effective, allowing a .222 batting average against.

Pirates Seek Early Season Success

The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to improve their hitting as the regular season begins. Oneil Cruz has shown power with one home run and three runs scored. However, his batting average is .182, so he will aim to boost that in upcoming games. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been a bright spot for the Pirates. He has a .333 batting average and a .500 on-base percentage. Joey Bart matches Kiner-Falefa with a .333 average and has added two runs. Carmen Mlodzinski is expected to pitch for the Pirates. During spring training, he had a 4.74 ERA with 268 strikeouts. Mlodzinski’s recent outings included a start against the Orioles, where he allowed one run in three innings.

Final Betting Pick

The Rays have started the regular season strong with a 2-1 record. Their pitching has been solid, with a 2.33 ERA. This gives them an edge over the Pirates, who have a 1-3 record and a higher ERA of 3.22. The Rays’ batting average of .286 also surpasses the Pirates’ .184, indicating better offensive performance.

Choosing the under 8.0 runs seems wise as both teams have shown good pitching early on. The Rays have allowed only one home run, while the Pirates have allowed two. With both teams focusing on pitching, a lower-scoring game is likely. The betting odds favor the Rays, and their early season stats support this prediction.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.