Yankees vs Pirates Picks and Prediction – 4/4/2025

On Friday, the New York Yankees (3-1) face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (1-5) at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup on a four-game losing streak and has dropped four of their last five games prior to their series finale against Tampa Bay. In a tough 7-0 defeat against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Pirates pitcher Thomas Harrington struggled, throwing for four innings and giving up six earned runs on seven hits and four walks. This season, Nick Gonzales, Andrew McCutchen, and Oneil Cruz are tied for the team lead in home runs, each with one. Adam Frazier has been the most productive in terms of RBIs, leading the team with three. Isiah Kiner-Falefa boasts the highest batting average on the team at .333. Recently, Pittsburgh's defense has been shaky, with the team allowing an average of 4.8 runs over the last five games. The Pirates have had a rocky start to the season and are gearing up to face the formidable, offense-driven Yankees. Looking back at last season, the Pirates managed to score an average of 4.1 runs per game.

New York enters this game on a one-game losing streak, but has won three of their first four games of the season, prior to their last two games of their series against Arizona. In a 7-5 defeat against Arizona on Tuesday, Ben Rice stood out for the Yankees, hitting 2-for-4 with a home run, scoring once, and driving in a run. This season, Aaron Judge has been a powerhouse for New York, leading the team with four home runs. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe are close behind, each contributing three home runs to the scoreboard. Judge also tops the team in RBIs, tallying eleven so far, and boasts the highest batting average at .400. Over their first four games, the Yankees have averaged an impressive 10.2 runs per game. As they prepare to face the Pirates at PNC Park, they'll aim to maintain this strong offensive momentum. Last season, their average was five runs per game, showing significant early improvement this year.

The Pirates have struggled early this season, losing five out of their initial six games. They’re eager to gain some momentum as they host the formidable Yankees. New York's starter, Max Fried, has delivered a 3.86 ERA over 4.2 innings pitched. On the other hand, Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller is off to a strong start with a 1-0 record and an impressive 1.50 ERA. Final Score Prediction, New York Yankees win 5-3.