The 2022 MLB season continues Thursday, June 9, with 11 games around the leagues, including the National League showdown at Truist Park in Atlanta. Hereof, we bring you the best Pirates vs. Braves betting pick along with the latest odds update on Bovada Sportsbook.  

Pittsburgh meets Atlanta for the first time this season, opening a four-game series in Georgia. Last year, the Pirates won three of their seven contests against the Braves, but the Bucs are only 1-9 in their previous ten visits to Truist Park.  

The Pirates have played well of late                               

At the time of writing, the 24-29 Pittsburgh Pirates were looking to avoid a sweep in a two-game interleague series at home against the Detroit Tigers. Last Tuesday, the Bucs lost 5-3 to the Cats, tallying their fourth defeat in the last 11 games overall. 

Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has recorded a strong 3.23 ERA in that 11-game stretch. On the other side of the ball, the Bucs have slashed only .227/.304/.390 while scoring 53 runs in the process. 

JT Brubaker will take the mound Thursday, aiming for his first win in 2022. The 28-year-old right-hander is 0-5 with an underwhelming 4.70 ERA, 4.61 FIP, and 1.45 WHIP in 11 starts (51.2 innings) this season. Last Friday, Brubaker was obliterated for six runs (five earned) on eight hits across four frames in an 8-6 defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

The Braves are heating up                               

The 29-27 Atlanta Braves’ Wednesday night clash against the Oakland Athletics has been excluded from the analysis. The reigning champs were looking to extend their winning streak to seven games after beating the A’s 3-2 at home this past Tuesday. 

Over the last couple of weeks, the Braves have done an excellent job at the plate, slashing .278/.331/.491. They’ve scored 70 runs on their previous 13 outings while slugging 40 extra-base hits and 19 no-doubters. 

Max Fried will take the hill Thursday, and the 28-year-old southpaw hasn’t been charged for a loss since April 13. Fried holds a 5-2 record, 2.74 ERA, 2.92 FIP, and 1.01 WHIP in 11 starts (69 innings) in 2022. Last Friday, Fried authored a dominant performance at Coors Field in Denver, yielding just a couple of hits across eight shutout innings. 

Trends:

Pittsburgh: 

  • 1-9 in the last ten road games against Atlanta  
  • 2-4 in JT Brubaker’s last six starts 

Atlanta:

  • 10-4 in the last 14 games overall 
  • 7-2 in Max Fried’s last nine starts 

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Atlanta Braves Pick 

JT Brubaker is having a rough season, and things won’t get any easier Thursday at Truist Park. The current Braves are hitting .352/.352/.685 with three round-trippers in 22 at-bats against Brubaker. On the other side, the current Pirates have only three hits in 16 at-bats against Max Fried, who’s allowed just three earned runs over his previous three starts. 

The moneyline odds on the Braves are not attractive (-260), so I’m backing the hosts to cover. Atlanta should score a few runs early, while the Pirates will have a mountain to climb against Max Fried. Pittsburgh owns a .636 OPS and 81 OPS+ against the left-handed starting pitchers in 2022.  

Pick: Take Atlanta Braves -1.5 at -120                            

The Total:

Both bullpens have done a good job over the last ten days, but you never know with the Pirates’ relievers. Pittsburgh’s bullpen has recorded a 2.38 ERA and 4.02 FIP in its last eight outings, so the Pirates desperately need a strong display from JT Brubaker. 

I would stick with the Braves to beat the runline. The totals are a tricky bet, as the numbers don’t suggest a high-scoring affair. But I cannot take the under given the Braves’ recent form at the dish. 

Pick: Go over 8.0 runs at -115