Dodgers vs Pirates Prediction 8/21/26 MLB Picks Today

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers meet Friday in MLB action at Dodger Stadium. Here’s a Dodgers vs Pirates Prediction. This article will include a Dodgers vs Pirates Pick.

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 63-66 on the year and play the Padres and Cardinals next. The Pittsburgh Pirates are batting .256 on the season, with a .333 OBP and a .411 slugging percentage. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitching staff has a 4.29 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Nick Gonzales leads the Pittsburgh Pirates with 140 hits and 53 RBI, while Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe have combined for 244 hits and 146 RBI.

Bubba Chandler gets the ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he is 6-8 with a 4.23 ERA and 108 strikeouts this season. This will be Chandler’s second career game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 77-51 on the year and play the Tigers and Braves next. The Los Angeles Dodgers are batting .260 on the season, with a .335 OBP and a .430 slugging percentage. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching staff has a 3.70 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Freddie Freeman leads the Los Angeles Dodgers with 142 hits and 61 RBI, while Andy Pages and Shohei Ohtani have combined for 267 hits and 160 RBI.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the ball for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he is 12-7 with a 2.60 ERA and 136 strikeouts this season. This will be Yamamoto’s second career game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win

• The Dodgers have won each of their last eight games against teams that held a losing record.
• The Pirates have lost each of their last 10 Friday games against National League opponents.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight night games against NL West opponents following a win.
• The Dodgers have covered the run line in eight of their last 10 games as home favorites against NL Central opponents following a win.
• The Pirates have trailed after 3 innings in five of their last six games at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.
• The Dodgers have led after 5 innings in nine of their last 10 night games at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium against NL Central opponents.
• The Pirates have lost the first inning in six of their last seven games at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Dodgers have lost each of their last four games as home favorites against National League opponents following a win.
• The underdogs have won five of the last six games between the Pirates and Dodgers.
• The Dodgers have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games against the Pirates following a road win.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in seven of their last eight road games against National League opponents following a home win.
• The Dodgers have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four night games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
• The Dodgers have trailed after 5 innings in four of their last five games against NL Central opponents.

Total Runs Facts

• Seven of the last eight games between the Pirates and Dodgers have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Six of the Pirates’ last seven games as underdogs against the Dodgers have gone OVER the total runs line.
• There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in each of the Pirates’ last nine games at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.
• There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in each of the last seven night games between the Pirates and Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.

Los Angeles Dodgers Player Prop Facts

• Max Muncy has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances with the Dodgers as home favorites against NL Central opponents.
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto has recorded eight or more strikeouts in four of his last five home appearances against NL opponents.
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto has recorded a win in each of his last five appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Miguel Rojas has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight home appearances against the Pirates.
• Shohei Ohtani ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.554) this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Bubba Chandler has recorded a win in each of his last three appearances.
• Oneil Cruz has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances after not playing the previous day.
• Bubba Chandler has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last four appearances with the Pirates as underdogs.
• Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of the Pirates’ last 12 games against NL West opponents.
• Nick Gonzales ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.310) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Dodgers rank 1st in the league for opponent batting average this season (.218).
• The Dodgers rank 1st in the league for hits allowed this season (920).
• The Pirates rank 1st in the league for hits this season (1136).
• The Pirates rank 29th in the league for strikeouts against this season (1208).

Dodgers vs Pirates Prediction

I’m always looking for spots to fade the Dodgers, and these inflated prices, but the Pirates and Bubba aren’t one of those spots. The Dodgers are putting together a strong week, and Yamamoto has been dealing with a 2.60 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. In his last 25.2 innings, Yamamoto has allowed 16 hits and 5 runs. The Pirates just aren’t a team you think is going to pour a bucket of water on the Dodgers’ fire. Give me the Dodgers, and of course I’ll lay the RL to shave down the price.