Pirates vs Braves Prediction & Best Bets (6/29): Saturday Spotlight Shines on Skenes vs Fried Showdown in Atlanta

In today’s MLB games, there are multiple intriguing pitching matchups, but one stands out among the rest. The spotlight is on Atlanta, where Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates will face off against Max Fried and the Braves in the second game of their three-game series at Truist Park.

Charlie Morton pitched 6.1 shutout innings last night, contributing to the Braves’ (45-35) 6-1 victory. A five-run third inning played a crucial role in the win. Morton’s impressive performance included allowing only three hits and one walk, while striking out seven batters. This victory helped Atlanta bounce back after losing consecutively to the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox.

Today, the Pirates (39-42) aim to level the series as Skenes takes the mound for his ninth MLB start. It has been slightly over a year since his last college start with LSU, but Skenes has already made a big impact since his big-league debut on May 11. Despite his rookie status, he is considered a strong contender for NL Rookie of the Year, with odds of -250 in his favor.

With perhaps the most exceptional left-handed pitcher in the game on the mound as a counter, Atlanta’s hitters may not have to work hard to secure the series victory.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Odds

These Pirates vs Braves odds are as of Monday, June 17. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on Major League Baseball.

Moneyline

  • Pittsburgh Pirates +125
  • Atlanta Braves -136

Over/Under

  • Over 7.5 (-102)
  • Under 7.5 (-118)

Run Line

  • Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 (-180)
  • Atlanta Braves -1.5 (+160)

Today’s Pitching Matchup for Pirates vs Braves

  • Paul Skenes, a right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has made 8 starts this season with an impressive record of 4 wins and 0 losses. He currently holds a remarkable ERA of 2.14 in 46.1 innings pitched. Skenes has struck out 61 batters while only issuing 8 walks, showcasing his excellent control. Additionally, he boasts an outstanding 0.99 WHIP and limits opposing batters to a .222 batting average.
  • LHP Max Fried of the Atlanta Braves has made 15 starts with a record of 7 wins and 3 losses. He has maintained a 3.00 ERA over 90 innings pitched, striking out 80 batters while issuing 27 walks. With a 1.07 WHIP and a .211 opponent batting average, Fried has been a formidable force on the mound.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Betting Analysis and Trends

In their previous game, the Pirates suffered only their second defeat when Skenes took the mound. Facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays last Sunday, Skenes delivered an impressive performance, pitching seven solid innings. He allowed six hits, one walk, and one run while striking out eight. Despite his efforts, the game concluded with a 1-1 tie. However, the Rays managed to secure a 3-1 victory, scoring two crucial runs in the eighth inning.

Today, Skenes has the opportunity to face an Atlanta lineup that remains inconsistent. Despite scoring six runs in the first game of their doubleheader against the Cardinals on Wednesday, they struggled to score, managing only one run in a total of 18 innings, resulting in a loss against the White Sox on Thursday.

In their last five at-bats last night, they failed to score any runs. However, the damage they caused in the third inning was sufficient to support Morton’s outstanding performance.

Atlanta has a win-loss record of 25-13 (.658) in games after securing a victory this season, ranking them eighth in MLB. Notably, they have achieved a record of 7-2 (.778) in their most recent nine games following a win. Despite their sluggish performance at the plate, the team is experiencing some notable success.

Even though they have to deal with the challenge of facing Skenes for the first time, this looks like a favorable spot to back the Braves at better odds compared to many of their home games.

Fried has an impressive record of 11-4 this season, with a particularly strong performance at home with a 4-1 record. However, there was one defeat against the San Diego Padres on May 17. Despite starting off well and keeping the Friars scoreless for four innings, Fried faced difficulties in the fifth inning, resulting in a 3-1 loss.

If Fried’s starts continue to follow their usual pattern, it is highly probable that the Braves will emerge victorious and the under bet will be successful. This is due to the fact that in his initial four starts, there were a minimum of nine runs scored collectively. However, in his previous eleven starts, there were only seven or fewer runs on nine occasions.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Prediction & Best Bets

Prediction for Pirates vs Braves: Braves to win

Best Bets for Pirates vs Braves: Braves ML & Pirates/Braves under 7.5

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