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

Today’s MLB slate features several notable pitching matchups, but there’s one that stands out above the rest. That one is in Atlanta, where Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates will matchup with Max Fried and the Braves in the second game of their three-game series at Truist Park.

Last night, 6.1 shutout innings by Charlie Morton and a five-run third inning led the Braves (45-35) to a 6-1 win. Morton allowed only three hits and one walk and struck out seven to help Atlanta return to the win column after consecutive losses to the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox.

Today, the Pirates (39-42) will look to even up the series with Skenes on the bump for his ninth MLB start. Just over a year since his final collegiate start for LSU, Skenes is a -250 favorite for NL Rookie of the Year despite only making his big-league debut on May 11.

With arguably the best southpaw in the show on the mound to counter , Atlanta’s bats may well not need to manufacture much to secure the series win.

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

• Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Paul Skenes (8 starts, 4-0, 2.14 ERA, 46.1 IP, 61 K/8 BB, 0.99 WHIP, .222 OBA)
• Atlanta Braves: LHP Max Fried (15 starts, 7-3, 3.00 ERA, 90 IP, 80 K/27 BB, 1.07 WHIP, .211 OBA)

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Betting Analysis and Trends

Last time out, the Pirates lost for just the second time in a Skenes start. Against the Tampa Bay Rays last Sunday, Skenes went seven strong innings, allowing six hits, one walk, and one run and striking out eight. His day ended with the game tied at 1, but the Rays went on to win 3-1 thanks to two runs in the eighth.

Today, Skenes gets to go up against an Atlanta lineup that continues to blow hot and cold. After scoring six runs in the opener of their doubleheader with the Cardinals on Wednesday, they proceeded to score just one run in 18 innings in losing the second game of the twin bill and falling to the White Sox on Thursday.

Last night, they were blanked in their final five at-bats, but the damage they did in the third proved to be enough to back up Morton’s magic.

For the season, Atlanta is 25-13 (.658) in games following a win, which is eighth in MLB. Most recently, however, they are 7-2 (.778) in their last nine games following a win. So, some success is happening even though the bats are still trying to get going.

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.

They are 11-4 in Fried’s starts this season, including 4-1 at home. The lone blemish came against the San Diego Padres on May 17. In that game, Fried blanked the Friars for four innings then ran into some trouble in the fifth in a 3-1 loss.

If things go as they have gone in most of Fried’s starts, not only will the Braves win, but the under will likely hit. Why? There were at least nine combined runs in each of his first four starts, but in his last 11 starts, there have been seven or fewer runs nine times.

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

More MLB Betting Information

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