Pirates vs Angels Picks and Prediction – 4/24/2025

On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates (8-15) face off against the Los Angeles Angels (11-10) at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

Los Angeles comes into this matchup on a one-game winning streak, but has dropped three of their last five games prior to their series opener against Pittsburgh. In a close 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants, Zach Neto made a significant impact for the Los Angeles Angels, going 1-for-3 at the plate with a home run, driving in two runs, and crossing the plate twice himself. Mike Trout has been the team’s top power hitter so far this season, having smashed a team-high eight home runs. Behind Trout, Kyren Paris, Taylor Ward, and Logan O’Hoppe are tied for second on the team, each contributing five home runs apiece. Trout also paces the team in RBIs, having knocked in sixteen runs—making him the Angels’ most productive run producer to this point. When it comes to consistent hitting, Nolan Schanuel leads the Angels with a .273 batting average. Defensively, Los Angeles has performed well in recent games, allowing an average of just three runs over their last five matchups. As a result, they are positioned only a game and a half behind the Texas Rangers for first place in the American League West standings. The Angels have exceeded expectations with their strong start to the season and will aim to build on that momentum when they host the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates. So far, the team is averaging 4.2 runs scored per game.

Pittsburgh enters this game on a three-game losing streak and has dropped three of their last five games prior to their series opener against Los Angeles. In a 5-4 extra-innings defeat against the Cleveland Guardians, which lasted ten innings, Adam Frazier made a notable contribution for the Pittsburgh Pirates by going 1-for-4 at the plate, driving in two runs and scoring once himself. This season, Oneil Cruz stands out as the team’s top power hitter, leading the Pirates with five home runs. Bryan Reynolds has also been a key contributor, ranking second on the team with three home runs. Cruz not only leads in homers but also tops Pittsburgh’s RBI chart, having driven in eleven runs so far this year. When it comes to batting average, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been the most consistent hitter for Pittsburgh, posting a team-high .268 average. However, the Pirates have faced significant challenges both offensively and defensively. In their last five contests, the team has surrendered an average of 3.8 runs per game. These struggles are reflected in their position at the bottom of the NL Central standings. Overall, the Pirates have had a sluggish start to the season, averaging just 3.4 runs per game, an indication of their offensive difficulties. As they prepare to travel to Angel Stadium for an interleague matchup with the Los Angeles Angels, Pittsburgh will be hoping to strengthen their pitching and ignite their offense to turn their season around.

The Angels have kicked off the season with an unexpectedly strong performance, particularly when playing at home where their offense has been firing on all cylinders. This could pose a significant problem for the Pirates, who have had a difficult time away from home, losing eight of their last ten road games. The Pirates have been facing challenges across the board, struggling both offensively and defensively, and will be eager to reverse their current slump. On the mound for Pittsburgh is Andrew Heaney, who has posted a solid 1-1 record with an impressive 2.13 ERA so far this year. The Angels will counter with Jack Kochanowicz, who has struggled in his outings, holding a 1-2 record and a considerably higher 6.20 ERA. With the Angels’ offense rolling and the Pirates looking for answers, this matchup presents an interesting opportunity for both teams. Final Score Prediction, Los Angeles Angels win 6-5.