Atlanta Braves vs
Pittsburgh PiratesPredictions & Preview

Braves and Pirates set for rubber match showdown in MLB Saturday action, Sale to face Mlodzinski on the mound

In Saturday afternoon MLB action, the Atlanta Braves will face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a rubber match. The Braves, standing at 19-20, will be sending Chris Sale (ERA: 4.07) to the mound, while the struggling Pirates, with a 13-27 record, will start Carmen Mlodzinski (ERA: 6.16). The teams have split the first two games of the series, with Atlanta opening as the favorite at -182 and the current line at Atlanta -200. Stay tuned for our Braves vs Pirates prediction to see who we believe will come out on top.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Braves -200 | Pirates +175
• Spread: Braves -1.5 (-120) | Pirates +1.5 (+103)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Atlanta will win straight-up is 67%.

Atlanta vs Pittsburgh Stats

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves currently have a 19-20 record, placing them third in the NL East. They have shown resilience, winning 14 of their last 21 games, with a strong home record of 12-6. However, their performance on the road has been less impressive at 7-14. Chris Sale has been a standout in the rotation, posting a 1.44 ERA over his last three starts and relying more on his slider with great success. Marcell Ozuna has been leading offensively with a .427 on-base percentage. The team ranks 21 in offense, scoring an average of 3.97 points per game, and 11 in defense, allowing an average of 4.03 points against them. Improvement in offensive consistency will be crucial for the Braves to secure a series win and improve their road record.

Pittsburgh Pirates Analysis

The Pittsburgh Pirates currently hold a 13-27 record, placing them at the bottom of the NL Central standings. Despite ongoing challenges at PNC Park, the team has shown glimpses of potential, exemplified by their recent victory against the Braves. Pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski has had a rocky season, displaying moments of promise but struggling with consistency. Offensively, Oneil Cruz has been a standout player, contributing both at the plate and in the outfield. However, the team faces difficulties in generating consistent offense and will need to focus on improving depth and consistency to secure wins. With a power ranking of 25 and ranking last in offense, the Pirates will need to capitalize on home-field advantage and work towards securing a series win against the Braves.

Pittsburgh Pirates a Solid Bet at +1.5 vs. Atlanta Braves in Decisive Match

Given the closely contested nature of the first two games in this series, each ending in a 3-2 final score, there appears to be value in considering Pittsburgh +1.5 in the upcoming decisive match. Despite the significant difference in records between the two teams, the Pirates have demonstrated their ability to stay competitive with the talented Atlanta squad by keeping both games within a single run. Atlanta's struggles to produce consistent offense on the road have been effectively contained by Pittsburgh's pitching staff. The similar home records of both teams suggest that there is no significant advantage in terms of location. While Chris Sale has been performing well recently, Pittsburgh's goal does not necessarily require defeating him outright, but rather keeping the game close. With the potential displayed by Carmen Mlodzinski and Oneil Cruz, along with the recent defensive success of the Pirates, selecting Pittsburgh +1.5 at home against a struggling away Atlanta team is a sensible and strategic decision on the runline.

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