Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 5/9/25, 2:47 PM  by Erik Gibbs in MLB Picks

The Pittsburgh Pirates return to PNC Park on Friday in search of a much-needed win as they attempt to snap a seven-game losing streak. Their next challenge comes against a surging Atlanta Braves team that has found some recent momentum.

The Pirates enter this contest with a 12-26 record, sitting at the bottom of the National League Central after a string of disappointing series. They were just swept by the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-game set, being outscored 13-4, including being shut out in the finale. Prior to that, Pittsburgh dropped all three games to the Padres and lost two of three to the Cubs, highlighting their struggles both at the plate and on the mound.

The losing skid has led to internal changes, with the Pirates parting ways with their manager in hopes of sparking a turnaround. However, the road ahead looks tough. The team has posted a 7-12 record at home and has struggled to produce runs consistently, ranking near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories.

On the other side, the Braves arrive in Pittsburgh with renewed confidence. After taking three out of four from the Cincinnati Reds, they’ve improved to 18-19 and now sit third in the National League East.

Atlanta has won four of its last five games, including an exciting extra-innings comeback win in the final game of the Reds series. That kind of resilience has fueled the Braves recently, even as they navigate their own inconsistencies.