Pittsburgh Pirates vs LA Dodgers Prediction MLB Picks 8/10/24

Pirates Trying To Stay Afloat In NL Playoff Hunt

Going into Friday’s opener, Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates with 127 hits with 22 doubles along with 19 home runs and 68 RBIs while Andrew McCutchen has 14 home runs and Jack Suwinski has 9 stolen bases. Oneil Cruz has 11 stolen bases and 136 strikeouts while also posting 23 doubles, 17 home runs and 57 RBIs and Connor Joe has a .239 batting average and 19 doubles as well this season. Ke’Bryan Hayes also has 11 stolen bases as well this season.

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Pirates have won six of their last eight games as underdogs against the Dodgers following a loss.
• The Dodgers have lost five of their last seven games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in eight of their last nine road games.
• The Dodgers have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight night games against National League opponents that held a losing record.

Los Angeles Dodgers Recap

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be looking to carry forward some of their momentum after a solid start to the series at the plate on Friday. A series win would be great for the Dodgers to keep the ball rolling following their series win over Oakland and to help bounce back from a series loss to the Phillies earlier this week.

Dodgers Looking To Climb Closer To NL West Crown

Entering Friday, Shohei Ohtani has 133 hits including a team-high 34 home runs, 29 doubles and 81 RBIs with a .302 batting average while Mookie Betts has 86 hits with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 10 homers and 40 RBIs of his own, but continues to miss time because of an injury. Teoscar Hernandez also has 25 home runs with 74 RBIs and a team-high 131 strikeouts. Betts also has 9 stolen bases while Ohtani has a team-high 32 stolen bases. Freddie Freeman also has 70 RBIs with 27 doubles and Will Smith has added 19 doubles, 15 home runs and 58 RBIs.

Why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win

• The Pirates have lost each of their last six road games against the Dodgers following a home loss.
• The Dodgers have won 11 of their last 13 home games against NL Central opponents following a loss.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in eight of their last nine road games against National League opponents following a home loss.
• The favorites have covered the run line in four of the last five games between the Pirates and Dodgers.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs LA Dodgers Prediction

I’m on the Dodgers in this one. I get why the Pirates are favored, as Paul Skenes is the real deal. However, you could argue the worst start of his career came against the Dodgers, giving up 3 runs in five innings of work, and the Pirates’ offense continues to be inconsistent. The Dodgers have woken up offensively as of late and we’ve seen plenty where Skenes pitches well but the Pirates find a way to fall apart and waste his outing and I think we could see that here. Not often you’ll get the Dodgers at this price. Give me the Dodgers.