The Atlanta Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Saturday in MLB action from Comerica Park. Here’s a Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves prediction. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Atlanta Braves Betting Preview
The Braves played the Chicago Cubs in their last series. Atlanta lost the first game in that set 4-3, but came back to win the series with victories 9-2 and 3-0 from there. On Friday versus the Pirates, the Braves scored all their runs in the eighth inning during an 11-5 loss. Starting pitcher Ray Kerr had a rough day with 4.0 innings, five earned, seven hits and a walk.
In the starting pitcher role for Saturday the Braves will send out Reynaldo Lopez. This year Lopez is 2-1 with a 1.54 ERA and 44 Ks in 46.2 innings over eight starts. Lopez is 41-50 with a 4.14 ERA in 249 games (105 starts) in his career.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, they took on the San Francisco Giants this week. Pittsburgh won 7-6 in the Tuesday matchup, then dropped the other pair 9-5 and 7-6 to lose the series. In Friday’s opener the Pirates posted 14 team hits in the victory. Bailey Falter lasted 7.1 innings with three earned on six hits and a walk.
It’ll be Mitch Keller in the starting pitcher role for Pittsburgh on Saturday. This year so far Keller is 5-3 with a 3.84 ERA and 54 strikeouts over 61.0 innings in 10 starts. Keller is 30-41 in his career with a 4.62 ERA in 112 games (110 starts).
Braves vs Pirates Injury Notes
Braves SP AJ Smith Shawver (oblique) was placed on the 15-day Injured List Friday.
Total Runs Facts
- Eight of the last nine games between the Braves and Pirates have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Twenty-two of the Braves’ last 28 games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Ke’Bryan Hayes has hit a home run in two of his last three home appearances against the Braves.
- Oneil Cruz has recorded a Double in four of the Pirates’ last five games at PNC Park against opponents that held a winning record.
- Oneil Cruz has recorded at least one hit in each of the Pirates’ last eight games at PNC Park against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Mitch Keller has recorded six or more strikeouts in six of his last seven home appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Oneil Cruz has scored at least one run in each of the Pirates’ last four games at PNC Park against opponents that held a winning record.
- Ke’Bryan Hayes has recorded at least one RBI in four of his last five appearances at PNC Park against NL East opponents that held a winning record.
- Oneil Cruz has recorded at least one total base in each of the Pirates’ last eight games at PNC Park against opponents that held a winning record.
- Mitch Keller has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances against NL opponents.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one Single in eight of the Pirates’ last nine games against NL East opponents.
Atlanta Braves Player Prop Facts
- Michael Harris has scored at least one run in each of the Braves’ last eight road games against the Pirates.
- Ronald Acuna Jr. has recorded at least one RBI in nine of the Braves’ last 10 games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Marcell Ozuna has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 10 road appearances against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Michael Harris has recorded at least one Single in each of the Braves’ last six games at PNC Park against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Matt Olson has hit a home run in three of the Braves’ last four day games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Marcell Ozuna has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 road appearances against NL opponents that held a losing record.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Prediction
I might take a stab on the Pirates here. Pittsburgh should be in good hands with Keller on the mound. Over his last three starts Keller has been on fire with just three earned in 21.0 innings on 15 hits and four walks. He’s 3-0 in that time. As for Lopez, he’s given up just three earned in 16.2 innings over his last three starts (no decisions) so we should have a nice starter matchup here.
On Friday the Pirates scored three runs in two different innings. Four different batters had multiple hits, and everybody who stepped into the box got at least one. It really was a collective effort; nearly perfect outside of the eighth inning. I like Pittsburgh to keep it rolling this weekend.