In this article we will formulate a Pirates vs Dodgers prediction for this MLB game on Thursday, September 4th at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 63-77 this year after they won the first two games in this series by scores of 9-7 and 3-0. In their game two win, Pittsburgh scored once in the first and once in the second, then added an insurance run in the sixth to seal the victory. The Pirates recorded seven hits in the game and they were led by Bart, McCutchen, and Reynolds, who all had one RBI in the win. Pittsburgh started Ashcraft, who allowed two hits and zero earned runs over 3.0 innings, while Burrows picked up the win and Santana got the win.
Prior to this series, the Pirates won two out of three against the Red Sox and split four games with the Cardinals. Pittsburgh has won four of their last five games and they are last in the NL Central standings. The Pittsburgh pitching staff has a 3.88 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and a .237 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 512 runs with a .234 batting average and a .308 on base percentage this season. Oneil Cruz has led Pittsburgh with 19 home runs and 54 RBIs, while Bryan Reynolds has added 15 home runs and 69 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Paul Skenes, who is 9-9 with a 2.05 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP over 167.0 innings pitched this year.
Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview
The Los Angeles Dodgers are 78-61 this season after they lost game two by a score of 3-0 on Wednesday night. Los Angeles loaded the bases twice in the first few innings, but couldn’t find a timely hit all night for the shutout loss. The Dodgers recorded five hits in the game and they were led by Ohtani, who went 2-5 in the game. Los Angeles started Sheehan, who allowed five hits and two earned runs over 4.2 innings for the loss, while Casparius allowed one earned run in relief.
Prior to this series, the Dodgers lost two out of three against the Diamondbacks, but did win all three against the Reds before that. Los Angeles has lost four of their last five games and they are currently first in the NL West standings. The Los Angeles pitching staff has a 4.12 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP and a .241 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 707 runs with a .252 batting average and a .329 on base percentage this season. Shohei Ohtani has led LA with 46 home runs and 87 RBI’s, while Andy Pages has added 24 home runs and 78 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Los Angeles is Blake Snell, who is 3-3 with a 2.41 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP over 37.1 innings pitched this season.
Why the Dodgers will beat the Pirates
- The Pirates have lost 12 of their last 13 Thursday games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
- The Dodgers have won each of their last five Thursday games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight Thursday night home games against NL West opponents.
- The Dodgers have covered the run line each of their last five Thursday games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Dodgers have won the first inning in each of their last five Thursday night games against the Pirates.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Dodgers’ last eight night games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Each of the Pirates’ last four home games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last nine games between the Dodgers and Pirates.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in four of the Dodgers’ last five road games against NL Central opponents.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Andrew McCutchen has hit a home run in four of the Pirates’ last six games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded at least one hit in 14 of his last 15 appearances in night games against NL West teams that held a winning record.
- Joey Bart has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Paul Skenes ranks 1st amongst qualified players for Earned Run Average (2.05) this season.
Los Angeles Dodgers Player Prop Facts
- Shohei Ohtani has recorded at least one Double in each of the Dodgers’ last four games against the Pirates.
- Blake Snell has recorded a win in seven of his last eight appearances with his team as a favorite against NL Central opponents .
- Shohei Ohtani has hit at least one home run in four of his last five Thursday appearances against NL teams that held a losing record.
- Freddie Freeman has recorded at least one hit in 21 of his last 22 road appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Blake Snell has recorded seven or more strikeouts in 10 of his last 11 appearances with his team as a road favorite against NL opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Pirates rank 30th in the league for runs scored this season (512).
- The Pirates rank 30th in the league for home runs this season (102).
- The Dodgers rank 2nd in the league for home runs this season (204).
- The Dodgers rank 2nd in the league for RBIs this season (679).
Pirates vs Dodgers Prediction
Los Angeles has played very poorly over their last five games and they will look to turn things around here to avoid being swept. The Dodgers are just 33-35 on the road this year, while the Pirates are 41-30 at home. Pittsburgh continues to play some of their best ball of the season and they are starting Skenes, who has allowed a total of three earned runs in his last three outings. LA is going with Snell, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his last four starts. I do think the Pirates have the better pitcher with Skenes, but do I really think that the Dodgers are going to get swept by Pittsburgh? Take LA to win here.