The Pittsburgh Pirates entered Friday night just a half game out of the final Wild Card spot in the National League and look to help their playoff push further on Saturday when they host the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (-110, 8.5)
Jared Jones will be the Pirates starting pitcher on Saturday, entering with a 3.76 ERA with 9.7 strikeouts to 2.5 walks per nine innings overall, but having a large home and road splits with a 2.14 ERA at home and a 5.59 ERA on the road.
The biggest issue Jones has encountered this season is giving up the deep ball with 1.4 home runs per nine innings allowed, but gets to face a Rays lineup that is 25th among MLB teams in runs per game and with less than 0.8 home runs per game on the road, entered the series last in the American League in home runs per game on the road.
On the mound for the Rays is Zach Eflin, who is on pace for his worst strikeouts per nine inning rate since 2017, registering a 4.12 ERA with 1.3 home runs and 0.6 walks per nine innings allowed while getting 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
Both bullpens entered the series having difficulties with the Rays bullpen 22nd with a 4.38 ERA while the Pirates are 24th with a 4.50 ERA.
With the dominance Jones has displayed in Pittsburgh this season, the four runs per game the Pirates are averaging this season will be enough to get the job done on Saturday and help their playoff chances.
The Play: Pirates -110
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