Pittsburgh Pirates vs Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Predictions June 21st 2024

Hot-Hitting Bryan Reynolds Leads Pirates into Series Opener vs. Rays

Good luck getting Bryan Reynolds out in June.

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ switch-hitting left fielder has a .343 career average in the month, and he’s hit safely in every game this June. Reynolds will look to extend his MLB-leading 17-game hit streak on Friday when the Pirates host the Tampa Bay Rays to begin a three-game series.

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Reynolds’ Stellar June Performance

A two-hit effort on June 1 sprouted what has ultimately matched the longest hitting streak of Reynolds’ career, which he set as a rookie in 2019. This month, Reynolds is batting .343 (24-for-70) with a .600 slugging percentage and has three home runs, 10 RBIs, and seven doubles.

“I’ve got a good history in June, I guess,” Reynolds said. “So, need to make it a longer month.”

Reynolds has seven multi-hit games during the streak, including three in his past six games. He delivered Pittsburgh’s second straight series win with a solo home run in the eighth inning of a 1-0 victory against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

“It’s the biggest thing for a hitter. If you’re confident, you’ll see the ball better, make better decisions. If you’re not, you’re going to swing at everything and be in between. I feel confident in the box, feel like I’ve got a good chance. That’s where everything starts.”

Bryan Reynolds

Pirates’ Recent Success

That is helped the Pirates to a 10-7 record in June, with wins in three of their beyond four games. They have won the first game in each of their last five games and have won four of their last five series. Pittsburgh’s promising June has kept the club in the season finisher blend. For the National League’s final wild card, the Pittsburgh Pirates are half a game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Rays’ Challenge

Rays starter Ryan Pepiot( 4- 4,4.57 ERA) will be tasked with slowing down Reynolds. The righty has faced the Pirates only formerly in his career when he made his major league debut in Pittsburgh in 2022. He allowed one hit and walked five across three innings in a no- decision.

Tampa Bay is coming off a nearly queried three- game series against the Twins in Minnesota. After dropping the opener 7- 6, the Rays closed the series with a pair of one- run triumphs in redundant innings.

In Thursday’s rubber match, Tampa Bay recovered after blowing a 6- 2 lead in the ninth, with Jonny DeLuca driving in the winning run in the 10th in the 7- 6 victory. That followed a 3- 2 win in 10 innings on Wednesday.

Jose Siri’s Impact

Jose Siri came up clutch to help keep the Rays ahead in the bottom of the 10th on Thursday. The center fielder snared a fly ball in right-center before firing a rocket to third to throw out the automatic runner. Siri also hit a home run Thursday, his second in the past four games. Four of his nine this season have come in June.

“Staying back and telling myself that I can do it. Never losing focus and concentrate. If I struck out my first at-bat, that’s fine. Just stay focused.”

Jose Siri to the Bally Sun Sports

Tampa Bay is 5-8 over its past 13 games but has won three of its past four. Each of the Rays’ four most recent wins has been decided by two or fewer runs—Tampa Bay is a major league best 26-11 in such contests.

Pirates’ Pitching Situation

As of Thursday evening, the Pirates had yet to name a starter for Friday’s matchup.

Key Matchup: Pirates vs. Rays

At the beginning of the series, everyone will be watching Bryan Reynolds and his impressive hitting skills. Both teams are looking to keep their momentum going in this exciting series, with a hitting streak at stake. The Pirates seek to capitalize on their recent achievements, while the Rays look to maintain their ability to win tight games.

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Conclusion

Friday’s down will be a vital test for the two groups. The Pirates are hoping to expand their series of wins and keep their season finisher trusts alive, while the Rays intend to use their new close wins areas of strength for and. Fans can anticipate a thrilling series debut with Reynolds in top form and key players like Jose Siri rising to the occasion.