Bet on Pirates vs. Rays With BetMGM for $1,000 Risk Free

Reno Jonny Sports Betting Expert

2 minute read

After taking the first two from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Tampa Bay Rays will try for a sweep. The Pirates were down 3-0 early on Friday before cracking three solo shots to tie the game and eventually go to extra innings. On Saturday, the Pirates were up 5-3 going to the bottom of the eighth inning, and 5-4 going into the bottom of the ninth.  The Pirates lost both games by 1 run.

The Rays are 39-32, but being in the best division in baseball, that is good enough for fourth place. The Rays had previously lost seven of nine, vs the AL East, entering this series against the Pirates. 

At BetMGM Sportsbook, they have the Rays at -225 for Sunday afternoon's tilt. That is about 35-40 cents more expensive than Games 1 and 2, so at a $100 wager, it will win you $44. At BetMGM, they are offering you a risk free bet up to $1,000 on your first wager.  To be eligible for the risk-free bet, you must utilize the VIBONUS code at sign up.

Updated on 07/26/2024

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An interesting line to look at in this matchup is the run line. The Pirates have been big underdogs but have covered the run line in both games of the series so far. BetMGM has the Tampa Bay Rays at -1.5 with a +105 price. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at +1.5 with slight juice of -125. The same $100 wager on the Rays money line will produce $105. BetMGM is offering a risk free bet up to $1,000 if you utilize the VIBONUS code at sign up.

The pitching matchup is intriguing, as it will feature the strikeout leader in Shane McClanahan vs Roansy Contreras. McClanahan has at least seven strikeouts and has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his starts this season. McClanahan has not allowed more than one earned run in nine of his 14 starts.

Contreras has not been half bad in his rookie campaign. In his nine games played, he has started six of them and has not allowed more than three in any start. He just faced the Chicago Cubs on June 21 and went five innings allowing just one earned run.

The current total is set to 6.5 with the under at -115. The Pirates are 6-3-1 L10 to the over, while the Rays are 5-4-1 to the over L10. While both have been on a slight over trend, the trend is geared to the under when these two meet up. When Pittsburgh plays Tampa Bay, the under is 4-1-1 in the last six games. The BetMGM risk free bet up to $1,000 can also be utilized for a total bet. You must utilize the VIBONUS code at sign up to be eligible for the promotion (must be 21 years of age and in a legal betting state).

Written by Reno Jonny, our US sports betting industry expert. Follow him on Twitter @Reno_Jonny.

Reno Jonny

Reno Jonny is passionate about casinos (not really shocking with a name like "Reno"), as well as sports and the unifying aspect both can bring about. Reno Jonny has made those passions into a rewarding and uplifting career. Reno Jonny provides unfiltered hot takes in different aspects of sports; betting news, online casino reviews, big sports matchups, line movements, betting legislation and much more. More from Reno Jonny