Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction and Picks - September 3, 2025
The Pittsburgh Pirates will continue their home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park, and we have you ready to go with the Dodgers vs Pirates prediction.
Opening Pitch is slated for 6:40 PM Eastern, and the Dodgers took the last series, 2-1. Read on for the Dodgers vs Pirates prediction and more free MLB picks.
This article was written before Tuesday's action
Dodgers Close August With NL West Lead
Los Angeles closed out August with a win, topping Arizona in a 4-5 final. The Dodgers finished with 10 hits and scored two runs in the first. Three players finished with multiple hits, and Will Smith added a walk-off home run in the 9th. Yoshinobu Yamamoto got the start, and over seven innings, he struck out 10 and allowed one run.
RHP Shohei Ohtani is slated to start the upcoming game for the Dodgers. This season, Ohtani has made 11 starts, posting a 1–1 record with a 4.18 ERA over 32.0 innings pitched. He’s tallied 44 strikeouts against seven walks and has held opponents to a .251 batting average overall. In his last trip to the mound, Ohtani retired nine batters.
On the road in 2025:
- ERA: 6.12
- Opponent Batting Average (OBA): .317
- BB/K Ratio: 0.28
Los Angeles enters this contest averaging 5.56 runs per game, which lands them at 3rd in the league. The Dodgers struggled with consistency early on this season, but they now sit 3rd in overall batting average. What's more, they've been hitting much stronger in front of their home crowd. They sit 2nd in the league in home runs per game, but they've fallen into the bottom half of the league in strikeouts per game. They've still been able to drive runs home at a high rate, and this has made up for much of their plate inconsistencies.
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Pirates Slide In NL Central
Pittsburgh was unable to pull off the sweep against Boston, dropping game three in a 2-5 final. The Pirates struggled at the plate, managing just six hits while striking out 12 times. Alexander Canario led the way with two hits and a home run. Mitch Keller got the start, and over five innings, he struck out seven and allowed no earned runs on four hits.
RHP Braxton Ashcraft is expected to get the start for the Pittsburgh Pirates. This season, Ashcraft has made 21 appearances, posting a 2.57 ERA over 52.0 innings of work. He has struck out 48 batters while walking 15, good for a 1.29 WHIP. The right-hander has shown the ability to limit damage by keeping the ball in the yard, allowing no runs at home this year.
At home this season, Ashcraft holds the following splits:
- ERA: 3.13
- Opponent Batting Average (OBA): .241
- WHIP: 1.22
Pittsburgh enters this contest averaging 3.46 runs per game, placing them 25th in the league. The Pirates maintain a team batting average of .198, ranking 30th overall. On the road, their performance slightly improves, with a batting average of .205. However, their offense has been less effective during night games, with a batting average of .190. The Pirates average 0.8 home runs per game, indicating limited power. They have struggled with runners in scoring position, contributing to their low run production. Defensively, the team allows 4.38 runs per game, ranking 19th in the league. As the season progresses, Pittsburgh will aim to enhance offensive consistency and capitalize on road performance to improve its standings.
Los Angeles ML (4 Units)
The Dodgers continue to go yard at one of the highest rates in baseball, and they've been hitting even stronger on the road in August. Pittsburgh has struggled with consistency as well, and they've posted their weakest splits in front of their home crowd. Pittsburgh also sits in the bottom 10 in strikeout rate, and its pitching staff sits in the bottom five in strikeouts thrown. Look for the Dodgers to get the win here.
Los Angeles ML
Over 8.5
Both of these teams have been able to deliver home runs at some of the highest rates in the league. Additionally, they've been able to drive runners home when they're in position. The Pirates' pitching staff has been inconsistent this season, and the lack of strikeouts thrown could often put them in binds. Los Angeles has been hitting their best at night this season, and their bullpen is walking batters at one of the highest rates in the league. Expect runs here.
Over 8.5
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