The Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates meet Saturday in MLB action at PNC Park. Here’s a Pirates vs Braves Prediction. This article will include a Pirates vs Braves Pick.
Atlanta Braves Betting Preview
The Atlanta Braves are 18-20 on the year and play the Nationals, Red Sox, and Nationals next. The Atlanta Braves are batting .239 on the season, have a .311 OBP, and a .383 slugging percentage. The Atlanta Braves pitching staff has a 3.98 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Austin Riley leads the Atlanta Braves with 46 hits and 25 RBI, while Ozzie Albies and Micheal Harris II have combined for 67 hits and 38 RBI.
AJ Smith-Shawver gets the ball for the Atlanta Braves, and he is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 27 strikeouts this season. This will be Smith-Shawver’s first career game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 13-26 on the year and play the Mets, Phillies, and Reds next. The Pittsburgh Pirates are batting .218 on the season, have a .298 OBP, and a .328 slugging percentage. The Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff has a 4.25 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Bryan Reynolds leads the Pittsburgh Pirates with 34 hits and 19 RBI while Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz have combined for 65 hits and 32 RBI.
Andrew Heaney gets the ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he is 3-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 34 strikeouts this season. Heaney is 0-0 with a 5.00 ERA and 10 strikeouts in his career against the Atlanta Braves.
Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win
- The Pirates have won four of their last five games as home underdogs against the Braves.
- The Braves have lost eight of their last nine road games against National League opponents following a road loss.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in eight of the Braves’ last nine games.
- The Braves have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
- The Braves have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last six road day games.
- The Braves have lost the first inning in four of their last five day games against NL Central opponents.
- The Braves have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last six road day games.
Why the Atlanta Braves will win
- The Pirates have lost each of their last seven games after playing the previous day.
- The Braves have won seven of their last eight games against NL Central opponents following a road loss.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven day games against National League opponents.
- The Braves have covered the run line in seven of their last eight games following a road loss.
- The Pirates have trailed after 5 innings in six of their last seven day games.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Jared Triolo has hit a home run in two of his last three appearances at PNC Park against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Ke’Bryan Hayes has recorded three RBIs in three of his last four home appearances against the Braves.
- Joey Bart has scored at least one run in each of his last seven Saturday day appearances against teams that held a losing record.
- Andrew Heaney has recorded six or more strikeouts in six of his last eight appearances with his team as a home underdog against NL opponents.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one Single in each of the Pirates’ last seven home games against the Braves.
- Ke’Bryan Hayes has recorded two or more hits in each of his six previous home appearances against the Braves after playing the previous day.
- Oneil Cruz ranks T1st in the league in Steals (15) this season.
Atlanta Braves Player Prop Facts
- Michael Harris has hit at least one home run in three of the Braves’ last four road games against NL Central opponents.
- Michael Harris has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Braves’ last six road games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Matt Olson has scored at least one run in seven of the Braves’ last eight road games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Michael Harris has recorded at least one Single in each of his last eight appearances in day games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
- Michael Harris has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances in day games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
- Marcell Ozuna ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.425) this season.
Pirates vs Braves Prediction
The Braves keep going in their hole offensively at times these last couple of weeks, but this is a game they should win. Smith-Shawver has been solid, allowing nine runs in 27 innings and averaging a strikeout per inning. The Pirates are a mess, from the front office to the product on the field, and they don’t win enough to be worth a look in the underdog role most nights. The Pirates have won two straight games just three times this season. Heaney is having a great season with a top-40 ERA and WHIP, but it doesn’t matter much when the Pirates have been shutout in each of his last two starts. Give me the Braves and the reasonable price.