Sean's MLB TGIF IL ANNIHILATOR! 4 OF 5?
- Handicapper
- Sean Murphy
- League
- MLB
- Competition
- Tampa Bay Rays vs Pittsburgh Pirates
- Release Date
- 04/17/2026 07:59 AM
- Event Date
- 04/17/2026 06:45 PM
- Bet Type
- Moneyline
- Pick
-
Pittsburgh Pirates -130
(BetOnline)
- Outcome
- Win
- Analysis
- My selection is on Pittsburgh over Tampa Bay at 6:45 pm et on Friday.
Nick Martinez has bounced around a number of teams over the course of his big league career and has seemingly found a good landing spot with the Rays as he's undefeated through three starts this season. I think he's in tough against the Pirates on Friday, however. Note that while Martinez owns a sparkling 2.16 ERA so far this season, his 4.91 FIP tells a much different story. That latter mark is more consistent with his career numbers as he owns a 4.59 FIP going back to his debut with the Rangers in 2014. Pirates starter Bubba Chandler hasn't gotten off to the start he was probably hoping for following an impressive seven big league appearances last year (2.66 FIP and 0.93 WHIP). His FIP sits at 5.60 this season, to go along with a 1.57 WHIP. I do think this matchup sets up reasonably well as he catches the Rays coming off a series sweep of the lowly White Sox and in uncharted territory riding a six-game winning streak. Pittsburgh will look to shake off an extra innings defeat against Washington yesterday as it settled for a four-game series split. Note that the Buccos haven't lost consecutive games since opening the season with back-to-back losses against the Mets in New York. As clutch as the Rays have been offensively over the last week, they actually rank 21st in the majors in xwOBA over that stretch, while the Pirates sit in 10th. Pittsburgh is also two spots ahead of Tampa Bay in wOBA against right-handed pitching this season. Take Pittsburgh (8*).
