Los Angeles Dodgers vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction & Betting Tips - MLB

Prediction published on 04/07/2023, 09:11  by Joseph King | Modified on 04/07/2023 at 09:11 in MLB Predictions

The last game on the fourth of July MLB slate sees the LA Dodgers looking to make it two straight wins over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second of a three game series. Los Angeles sits second in the NL West while the Pirates are third in the NL Central ahead of this matchup. The Dodgers are now just 2.5 games behind the division leading Diamondbacks following their 5-2 win over Pittsburgh on Monday. The victory puts them 10 games above .500 and improves their record at home to 25-15 on the year. They’ve now won six of their last 10 overall. The Dodgers will send out rookie pitcher Emmet Sheehan to the mound who is 2-0 on the season with a 2.65 ERA. It’s been a positive start to the rookie’s big league career as he has won two of his three starts. Sheehan is coming off a five inning, three earned run performance against the Rockies where his Dodgers were able to secure a massive 14-3 victory.

The Pirates will be hoping to snap out of a three game losing streak here but will be up against it in this matchup. Pittsburgh has now given up 22 runs in their last three games as they have slumped to six games below .500.  This puts the Pirates 6.5 games behind the division leading Brewers and has them trailing the Giants for the final Wild Card spot also by 6.5 games. Taking the mound for the visitors will be Luis Ortiz who is 2-3 on the year with a 4.11 ERA. Ortiz put forward a worrying performance in his last appearance which could spell trouble for his meeting with the Dodgers. He went four and two thirds innings, allowing four earned runs, six hits, two home runs, three walks and most concerningly, zero strikeouts. He’ll now have to deal with a Dodgers team that are fourth in the MLB in runs scored per game at 5.42.