Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction 7-6-23 MLB Picks

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers meet in MLB action from Dodger Stadium on Thursday. Let’s dive into the odds, starting pitching matchup, history and make a prediction for this game.

Odds

The Dodgers are -240 home favorites while the Pirates are +200 road underdogs. The total for this game is set at 9 runs.

Starting Pitching Matchup

Johan Oviedo will start for the Pirates here and is 3-9 with a 4.61 ERA and 81 strikeouts this season. Julio Urias will start for the Dodgers and is 5-5 with a 4.94 ERA and 55 strikeouts this season. 

Matchup History

Los Angeles’ 6-4 win over the Pirates on Wednesday made it four straight meetings between these two teams without back-to-back winners in this head-to-head matchup. 

Trends

Pittsburgh is 14-39 in their last 53 road games against a team with a winning record and 3-8 in their last 11 game four matchups while the over is 4-1 in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record. Los Angeles is 111-46 in their last 157 home games and 85-34 in their last 119 home games against a team with a losing record while the over is 7-2-1 in their last 10 home games. 

Pick

I’m backing the Pirates +1.5 here. The Dodgers got one over on Pittsburgh on Wednesday, but man, they didn’t make it easy for themselves as the Pirates had the bases loaded and nobody out in the later innings on two separate occasions, including in the 9th and the Dodgers lucked out, but Julio Urias just hasn’t been sharp in his last few starts including his last one in his return from the IL against the Royals of all teams. Johan Oviedo is better than his numbers look and while he may not get the win, I don’t think this game is flat out cut and dry. I think this one could be close so I’ll take the Pirates +1.5.