Pirates vs. Dodgers Prediction and Odds for Monday, May 30 (Exploit Huge Mismatch on Mound on Memorial Day)

The baseball Gods saved the worst for last tonight when the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodgers Stadium. In this case, worst refers to the level of competition I expect from this game.

Specifically from the Pirates who I don’t think will put up much of a fight against the best team in the National League. The Dodgers are coming off a four-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks and hold a solid three-game lead in the NL West over the San Diego Padres.

The Pirates, meanwhile, are in third place in the NL Central, but only because the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are trash. Pittsburgh is 19-27 and will not finish higher than third in the division without some miracle taking place.

Pitt is 4-8 straight up in its last 12 games. I don't think things are going to get better in this series. 

Here are the odds for this game, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook. 

Pirates vs. Dodgers Odds, Run Line, and Total

Run Line

• Pirates: +1.5 (+130)
• Dodgers: -1.5 (-160)

Moneyline:

• Pirates: +290
• Dodgers: -330

Total:

• Total 8 (Over -120/Under +100)

Pirates vs. Dodgers Prediction and Pick

Not only are the Dodgers a far superior team from top to bottom, but they also have a massive advantage on the mound on Memorial Day. Walker Buehler will take the mound for LA at 6-1 with a 2.91 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. I’d like to see his strikeout numbers grow but overall Buehler is having a fantastic year.

Additionally, the current Pirates have a combined .100 average against Buehler in 13 combined at-bats. Not a huge sample size, but it just furthers my faith in Buehler here. 

Zach Thompson will start for Pittsburgh tonight and I have a ton of faith in him too. I have faith that Thomson is going to get crushed under the weight of the Dodgers lineup. The 28–year-old righty enters with a 5.50 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 34 ⅓ innings of work this year.

He’s been beaten up by bad offenses such as the Colorado Rockies and Cubs already this year and I predict an early exit for him tonight. He has been much better in May, but he faced the Reds twice, the Rockies and the Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers, on the other hand, have the fifth-best batting average in the league and lead the MLB in runs per game.

Let’s all pour out a little liquor for Thompson in preparation for his demise at the hands of the Dodgers tonight. 

Pick: Dodgers OVER 5 Runs (-115)

Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE.