Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, Preview and Odds - 06/05/2026

Game Time: 7:15 pm ET, Friday, June 5, 2026

Venue:  Truist Park, Atlanta, GA

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Pirates +120, Braves -140; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Pirates +120, Braves -140; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Pirates +120, Braves -140; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Pittsburgh Pirates:  33-29 (3rd place, NL Central)

Atlanta Braves:  42-20 (1st place, NL East)

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Pittsburgh Pirates:  7-3 last 10

Atlanta Braves:  6-4 last 10

The Pirates completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Minnesota Twins 3-0. They enter this game with a 33-29 record overall and have a road record of 15-14. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Braves on Friday with the series finale of their series against the Houston Astros still to be played on Thursday. The Pirates won the series opener on Tuesday and lost the 2nd game on Wednesday. Their offense ranks 4th in the MLB with a .744 OPS. Jared Jones is their starting pitcher on Thursday while Mitch Keller is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 5-2 with a 4.35 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 7 ER, 0 HR, and 1 BB with 5 SO on 10 hits through 4 IP against the Minnesota Twins.

The Braves won their 3-game series against the Cincinnati Reds 2-1. They enter this game with a 42-20 record overall and have a home record of 19-10. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Pirates on Friday with the 3rd game of their series against the Toronto Blue Jays still to be played on Thursday. The Braves won the 1st game of that series on Tuesday and the 2nd game on Wednesday. Their offense ranks 3rd in the MLB with a .761 OPS. Chris Sale is their starting pitcher on Thursday while Martín Pérez is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 3-3 with a 2.79 ERA this season. His team won 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 2 earned runs, 1 homer, and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts on 4 hits through 5 innings pitched against the Cincinnati Reds.

The current betting odds have the Braves listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Braves have looked great in their games this season with their 42-20 record overall which has them right at the top of the NL East with the best record in MLB. They have looked great in their own ballpark too with their 19-10 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Pirates have looked good in their games this season with their 33-29 record overall which has them right in the middle of the NL Central. They have been a good road team too with their 15-14 road record this year. The Pirates are 7-3 in their last 10 games and they have been rolling lately with one of the best offenses in MLB, but their pitching hasn't been great. The Braves have also been rolling lately, going 6-4 in their last 10 games, and they have one of the best offenses in MLB along with a better pitching staff. The Braves are going with Perez in this one and he has looked good this season. He is 3-3 with a 2.79 ERA and the team has been having success with him lately. They have won 2 of their last 3 games with him starting and he is off a good start in which he only game up 2 earned runs, something that has been a common theme for him. The Pirates are going with Keller in this one and he hasn't looked great this year. He is 5-2 with a 4.35 ERA and lately he has been giving up a lot more runs. The team has still had success with him, winning 2 games in a row now with him starting, but it definitely hasn't been because of him since he is coming off a terrible start in which he gave up 7 earned runs. The Braves have the offense to match the Pirates here along with the much better starter, so look for the Braves to take advantage of this pitching matchup. The best way to place a bet here is on the Braves to win this game. 

Pirates Braves Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, June 5, 2026 (7:15 pm ET start time) is Braves 7 Pirates 4.

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Pittsburgh Pirates: 41-35 (+11.4 units) on the moneyline against NL East opponents. 18-17 (+6.1 units) on the moneyline vs. an NL team with a slugging percentage of .430 or better on the season. 26-30 (+4.8 units) on the moneyline vs. NL teams allowing 4.0 or less runs/game on the season. 35-21 UNDER vs. an NL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.20 or better.

Atlanta Braves: 32-35 (-13.5 units) on the moneyline against NL Central opponents. 207-181 (-35.5 units) on the moneyline in all games. 104-87 (-26.3 units) on the moneyline in home games. 116-67 UNDER in home games.

Pittsburgh Pirates:  K. Griffin (SS) Ten Day IL - Flexor Tendon. J. Bart (C) Ten Day IL - Foot Infection. C. Devenski (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Illness.

Atlanta Braves:  H. Waldrep (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. D. Baldwin (C) Ten Day IL - Oblique. K. Farmer (DH) Ten Day IL - Forearm. S. Murphy (C) Ten Day IL - Finger. D. Young (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. A. Smith-Shawver (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Wentz (RP) Sixty Day IL - Knee. S. Schwellenbach (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Jimenez (RP) Sixty Day IL - Knee.

"Any time you lose a game like that it's frustrating. Looking at Monty and Soto, both of them have been so good for us this year. That one just got away. Just have to find a way to bounce back tomorrow." - Don Kelly after his team’s loss against the Astros in their game on Wednesday.

“We’re one whole group.” - Mauricio Dubon after their win against the Blue Jays in their game on Wednesday. 

Spencer Horwitz (L) 1B

Brandon Lowe (L) 2B

Bryan Reynolds (S) LF

Nick Gonzales (R) 3B

Oneil Cruz (L) CF

Marcell Ozuna (R) DH

Jhostynxon Garcia (R) RF

Jared Triolo (R) SS

Henry Davis (R) C

Ronald Acuña Jr. (R) DH

Michael Harris II (L) CF

Matt Olson (L) 1B

Ozzie Albies (S) 2B

Mauricio Dubón (R) LF

Austin Riley (R) 3B

Eli White (R) RF

Ha-Seong Kim (R) SS

Chadwick Tromp (R) C

Batting Average:  Tyler Callihan (.333)

Hits:  Nick Gonzales (65)

Home Runs:  Brandon Lowe (15)

RBI:  Oneil Cruz (44)

Stolen Bases:  Oneil Cruz (20)

Wins:  Paul Skenes (6)

Saves:  Gregory Soto (8)

ERA:  Wilber Dotel (1.08)

Batting Average:  José Azócar (.333)

Hits:  Ozzie Albies (68)

Home Runs:  Matt Olson (17)

RBI:  Matt Olson (46)

Stolen Bases:  Ronald Acuña (13)

Wins:  Chris Sale (8)

Saves:  Raisel Iglesias (11)

ERA:  Anthony Molina (0.00)

Managers:

Pittsburgh Pirates: Don Kelly (2nd season)

Atlanta Braves: Walt Weiss (1st season)