Atlanta Braves vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 5/9/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Atlanta Braves vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Friday, May 9, 2025

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Atlanta (-128) Pittsburgh (+106)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (12-26) will take on the Atlanta Braves (17-19) at PNC Park on Friday. The moneyline on this matchup has Atlanta at -128 while Pittsburgh is priced at +106. The betting total comes in at 9. The pitchers who are expected to start are Bryce Elder and Bailey Falter.

The Braves have accumulated 51 doubles as a team and have hit 41 baseballs out of the park. Atlanta has a slugging % of .388 and have been called out on strikes 310 times, while being walked on 122 occasions. As a unit, the Atlanta Braves are earning 4.0 runs per game, which has them sitting at 19th in MLB. They have compiled 138 RBI's in addition to 290 hits so far this season, while their batting average is sitting at .240. They are sitting with 144 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .313.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.54 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.25. Braves pitchers have surrendered 44 long balls and 146 total runs (11th in baseball). Atlanta has given up 271 base hits (7.7 per 9 innings) as well as 141 earned runs. The Braves have compiled a team ERA of 4.02 so far this year (17th in baseball), and they have rung up 312 batters. They have walked 123 players from the other team and their FIP is 4.20 as a squad so far this year.

The Braves bullpen have accumulated a save percentage of 58.3% and stepped onto the hill in 25 save situations. The relievers have inherited 47 base runners for the year and 34.0% of those runners ended up crossing the plate. Braves relief pitchers have entered the contest with players on base 36 times in addition to having 41 appearances in high leverage situations. The Braves have dispatched 112 relief pitchers to the hill on the season. The relievers have earned 13 holds so far this year (25th in MLB). They have accumulated 7 saves this year and have blown 5 of their 12 save chances.

The Athletics have amassed 946 putouts so far this season, in addition to 317 assists and 13 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .990 which has them ranked 1st in pro baseball, and they have turned 24 double plays. The Braves have turned 71.8% of balls hit into play into outs in their 2,838 innings on the field, which has them ranked 8th in the majors.

Elder has taken the mound for 310 innings and has totaled 243 K's during his MLB career. His ERA is 4.27 (147 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.338. He has given up 300 hits (8.7 hits per 9 innings) and has had 115 walks. Elder (18-14 career record) is the owner of a FIP of 4.20 while going up against 1,323 batters during his time in the majors.

Pittsburgh has 26 home runs for the season to go along with 116 runs batted in. They have hit 44 two-baggers, while walking 135 times as well as recording 118 runs. The Pittsburgh Pirates have compiled an OBP of .300 in addition to a batting average of .219 for the season. The Pirates hold a team slugging % of .325 and they are earning 3.11 runs per outing (30th in baseball). They have struck out on 322 occasions (8th in the league) and have earned a total of 274 base hits.

The Pittsburgh pitching staff have surrendered 175 runs on the year while having an ERA of 4.31 (162 earned runs allowed). They have surrendered 36 long balls and they relinquish 4.66 runs per 9 innings (22nd in MLB). The Pirates are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.278 in addition to having a FIP of 4.00 as a unit over the course of the season. Their K/BB ratio sits at 7.50 (283 strikeouts against 119 walks). They are currently ranked 21st in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits surrendered with 313.

Pittsburgh relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 32.2% of 59 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have come in 38 times in high leverage situations in addition to 37 occasions with runners on. With 32 save situations, the Pirates have earned 19 holds and 6 blown saves. They are ranked 24th in baseball with a save rate of 53.8%, and they have dispatched 126 relievers to the mound for the year. Pittsburgh has had bullpen pitchers step onto the mound in 13 save chances and they have earned 7 saves.

In their 3,045 innings on the field, the Pirates have a defensive efficiency of 69.8% (17th in the majors). The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 36 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .981 (26th in the majors). The Pirates have racked up 347 assists, 27 errors and have amassed 1,015 putouts for the season.

In his career, Falter has given up 385 base knocks while earning 293 strikeouts in 377 frames. Falter (19-26 career record) holds a 4.68 ERA while allowing 9.2 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered a total of 196 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.283 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.6. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.96 and he has faced 1,575 opposing batters during his pro baseball career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Atlanta (-128)

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