Braves vs Pirates Picks and Prediction – 5/9/2025

The Friday MLB schedule will get started with a matchup between the Atlanta Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates from PNC Park. Be ready for the baseball season with all of our MLB predictions. The Braves (18-19) are seven games below .500 on the road and trail NL East Division leading New York by 5.5 games. Last night, Drake Baldwin delivered a base hit that scored Ozzie Albies to lift Atlanta to a 5-4 home victory versus Cincinnati in 11 innings. 

Twenty-five year old righty Bryce Elder (2-1 5.06 ERA) will make his seventh start of the year. The Braves have won Elder’s last four starts and he has allowed ten runs over his last 22 innings of work.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to snap a seven-game losing streak and have scored just 12 runs total during the stretch. On Wednesday, Pittsburgh batters grounded into three double plays and struck out ten times during a 5-0 road loss against St. Louis. On Thursday, the Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton and replaced him with bench coach Don Kelly. 

The Pirates will give the nod to left-hander Bailey Falter (1-3 5.06 ERA) in the series opener. Last time out, Falter (7 IP) gave up one run and fanned six batters during a 2-1 home loss versus San Diego. 

Atlanta OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) is almost ready to begin a rehab assignment and hopes to make his season debut in June. Through 37 games, Atlanta ranks 14th in OPS and 20th in runs scored. For the season, Pittsburgh ranks 29th in OPS and 29th in runs scored. Take the Pirates to win at home. Final Score Prediction, Pittsburgh Pirates win 5-3.