Pirates vs. Dodgers prediction and odds for Tuesday, July 4 (Back LA to win big)

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers continue a weekday series in Los Angeles with the Dodgers entering Tuesday's matchup as big favorites.

Los Angeles continues to cycle through back-end rotation starters and will hope that rookie Emmet Sheehan will grow into his new role after three fine starts. He will face a struggling Pirates lineup as the Dodgers look to continue to beat up on teams below .500.

Here are the odds and our best bet for Tuesday's matchup:

It's a small sample size, but Sheehan has looked very good in three big league starts. He has posted a 2.65 ERA while limiting walks and hard contact, walking only one batter per nine innings and a seven percent home run to fly ball rate.

It helps now that he gets to face a Pirates lineup that is 29th in batting average over the last month at .224. The Pittsburgh offense pales in comparison to the Dodgers lineup of course, but the pitching matchup is also driving the edge in this one.

Luis Ortiz takes the mound for the Pirates, who has had an up and down season in 2023 and it may get worse. Ortiz has a 4.11 ERA, but that's supported by a 6.79 xERA in nine starts. Ortiz is striking out nearly the same amount of batters that he is walking and has allowed opponents to hit .309 on batted balls in play.

The Dodgers lineup has too much power and discipline at the plate not to generate plenty of run scoring chances against the volatile Ortiz, I'll back them on the run line to take care of business on the run line.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.