Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Picks and Predictions for Friday, September 26, 2025

By: David Anicetti Published 09/26/2025, 12:20 AM ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Atlanta Braves on Friday at Truist Park with the first pitch at 7:15 PM ET on MLB.TV. The Pirates won 4–3 in 11 innings against the Reds on Wednesday and sit at 69–89, last in the NL Central. The Braves lost 4–3 to the Nationals on Wednesday and are 75–84, fourth in the NL East. Both Pittsburgh and Atlanta have been eliminated from postseason contention. Step up to the plate and hit a homer with our MLB picks.

Pittsburgh Pirates Preview

The Pirates have won four straight games, mixing strong pitching with timely hitting. Mitch Keller takes the mound with a 6–15 record and a 4.22 ERA. The right-hander has worked 172.2 innings, giving up 20 home runs with 144 strikeouts and 46 walks. Keller has been inconsistent, but he often gives Pittsburgh a chance to win by keeping games close.

At the plate, Bryan Reynolds leads with 16 home runs and 73 RBI while hitting .243. Oneil Cruz leads with 20 home runs despite a lower batting average. The Pirates as a team are hitting .231 with 113 homers, ranking near the bottom of the league in scoring. Still, recent wins show they can put runs together and come out on top, but not often enough.

Atlanta Braves Preview

The Braves have dropped two of the last three but remain steady at home with a 38–40 record at Truist Park. Joey Wentz will start, holding a 5–6 mark with a 5.46 ERA. In 94 innings, Wentz has given up 10 home runs with 89 strikeouts but also 41 walks. Command has been a challenge, and he often works with runners on the bases.

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Matt Olson continues to be the main bat for Atlanta, hitting .272 with 28 home runs and 93 RBI. Michael Harris II has chipped in with 19 homers and 85 RBI, giving the Braves a needed boost behind Olson. As a team, Atlanta is hitting .246 with 187 homers, well ahead of Pittsburgh in run production. The lineup gives the Braves an advantage if Wentz can limit mistakes.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Prediction

The Braves have the stronger lineup and more power, while the Pirates rely on pitching to stay competitive. Keller has been better than Wentz, but Atlanta’s hitters will take over late in the game against the Pittsburgh bullpen. Final Score Prediction: Atlanta Braves win 6–4.