Atlanta Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Pick & Prediction

The Atlanta Braves (18-19) and Pittsburgh Pirates (12-26) will kick off a three-game series coming up on Friday, May 9 at 6:40 PM ET at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Braves are favored at MyBookie with a moneyline at -155.

Atlanta Braves Betting Preview

The Braves have gone 4-1 over their last five games and have great momentum coming into this series. Their recent battle was a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds that went to the 11th inning.

They are putting up 3.80 runs a game and allowing their opposition to get 2.40 runs over these last five games. If their defense continues to go down this path, they will be above .500 in no time and might actually stay above it.

Bryce Elder (2-1) will get the start on the mound for this next matchup. He has a few wins under his belt but still has a high ERA at 5.06 and a WHIP at 1.21. This could be an issue early if he allows the Pirates to get hot at the plate.

So far the Braves have a batting average at .240 and have allowed their opponents to get .231. This shows a steady pace at the plate, but they must capitalize on every possible opportunity to score if their pitching is weaker here.

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview

The Pirates have lost their last seven games and they are once again in a bad position to snap that losing skid. They are coming off a 5-0 shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals and this marked their third battle in the last five games where they have allowed four or more runs.

Offensively, they have scored an average of 1.00 run a game over their last five games while giving up 3.80 runs to the opposing team in return. While their defense is not the worst in the world, their offense has to step up if they want any chances of winning.

Bailey Falter (1-3) is on the mound to battle against the Braves, but is not much better than Elder. At this rate, the two of them will be similar in their efforts to slow down opposing teams. So far he has an ERA at 5.06 and a WHIP at 1.21.

The Pirates are producing just .219 at the plate and are allowing their opponents to get .245. Even if their defense did a better job, it is their offense that has been the focal point of their issues lately.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

The best Atlanta Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates betting odds have been provided by MyBookie, with the Braves favored to succeed. The Braves have a 56.4 percent chance of winning this game outright, according to market analysis.

Atlanta appears to be on the positive path above .500 while the Pirates are digging a hole they cannot seem to get out of. Look for the Braves to find success.

Final Pick: Atlanta Braves -155