The Pittsburgh Pirates (40-46) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (48-38) play the finale of a 4-game series Thursday at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is set for 10:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Pirates vs. Dodgers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 3-3 after a 6-4 win by Los Angeles on Wednesday
The Pirates fired out to a 4-0 lead through the top of the 4th inning Tuesday, but the Dodgers stormed back with 6 unanswered runs to win for the 2nd time in 3 tries in this series.
The Bucs are still 6-2 in the past 8 tries against NL West despite Wednesday’s loss. However, they’re just 3-12 in the past 15 games following a loss and 3-8 in the previous 11 in Game 4 of a series.
The Dodgers haven’t been great in a Game 4 either, cashing in just 1 of the past 7 tries. However, Los Angeles is an impressive 92-44 in the past 136 tries against right-handed starting pitchers, which is a .676 winning percentage.
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Pirates at Dodgers projected starters
RHP Johan Oviedo vs. LHP Julio Urias
Oviedo (3-9, 4.61 ERA) makes his 18th start. He has a 1.43 WHIP, 3.7 BB/9 and 7.8 K/9 in 93 2/3 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 8 ER, 9 H, 3 BB, 1 K in an 11-8 home loss vs. the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday
- 2023 road splits: 1-4, 4.43 ERA (40 2/3 IP, 20 ER – 4 HR), .271 opponent batting average (OBA) in 8 starts
Urias (5-5, 4.94 ERA) makes his 12th start. He has a 1.23 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 8.5 K/9 in 58 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 3 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 K in a 6-4 road loss vs. the Kansas City Royals Saturday
- 2023 home splits: 4-1, 1.99 ERA (31 2/3 IP, 7 ER – 5 HR), .186 OBA in 5 starts
Pirates at Dodgers odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:15 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Pirates +188 (bet $100 to win $188) | Dodgers -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Pirates +1.5 (+100) | Dodgers -1.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Pirates at Dodgers picks and predictions
Prediction
Dodgers 5, Pirates 2
Moneyline
The Dodgers (-225) will cost you over 2 times your potential return, and that’s just a little too expensive for my liking. For a standalone moneyline wager, my personal limit is -180. Even if you were to include L.A. as part of a multi-team parlay, using the Dodgers sucks the value out of your ticket.
PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
The DODGERS -1.5 (-120) are a much better value on the run line.
Los Angeles is just 5-5 in the past 10 games overall, but it has covered the run line as a favorite in all 5 of those victories. If you like the Dodgers to win, you should like them to cover, too.
The Pirates are just 1-3 in the past 4 games as underdogs and have lost by 2 or more runs in each of those setbacks.
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Over/Under
UNDER 9 (-105) might be the best play on the board for this game.
While the Over has cashed at a 7-1-1 clip in the past 9 games overall for the Bucs, it will be hard-pressed to cobble much offense together against the southpaw Urias. He has been money at home, posting a 1.99 ERA at Chavez Ravine this season.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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