Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Quick read:

The Tampa Bay Rays (11-7, first in the AL East) will face the Pittsburgh Pirates (11-8, second in the NL Central) on Friday at 6:45 p.m. EDT in Pittsburgh, marking the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

The Rays are entering the matchup on a five-game road win streak, while the Pirates hold a 6-4 record in home games and a 6-3 record in games where they scored five or more runs. Pitching probable for the Rays is Nick Martinez (0-0, 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 11 strikeouts), and for the Pirates is Bubba Chandler (0-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 14 strikeouts).

The betting line lists the Pirates at -140 and the Rays at +117, with an over/under of 8 1/2 runs. Key performers include Pirates' Oneil Cruz (four doubles, five home runs) and Rays' Brandon Lowe (10 for 40 with four home runs in the last 10 games).

The Rays' last 10 games show an 8-2 record with a 3.72 ERA, while the Pirates' last 10 games show a 5-5 record with a 3.22 ERA. Several players are on the injured list, including Pirates' Jared Triolo (knee) and Jared Jones (elbow), and Rays' Ryan Pepiot (hip), Michael Grove...