The Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates will meet on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at PNC Park in a matchup featuring two National League teams trending in very different directions. Atlanta enters the contest looking to reach the .500 mark after a bumpy start to the season, currently holding an 18-19 record that belies their talent-rich roster and postseason pedigree. The Braves have begun to regain their footing after a stretch of inconsistent play, winning four of their last five games and finding renewed production from key players like Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies. Riley, in particular, has been heating up at the plate, leading the team in hits and home runs while anchoring the middle of a lineup that still boasts considerable power even in the absence of their usual dominance. The pitching staff, fronted by veteran lefty Chris Sale, has been solid during this recent stretch, with a team ERA of 3.40 over their last 10 games, suggesting that Atlanta is starting to tighten up in critical areas. That said, their 6-13 road record is a glaring weakness, and they’ll need to overcome that trend if they hope to keep building momentum in a highly competitive NL East. On the other side, the Pirates continue to spiral, having dropped seven straight games and falling to 12-26 overall, buried at the bottom of the NL Central standings. While young stars like Oneil Cruz and Ke’Bryan Hayes have provided some offensive punch—combining for nearly 15 home runs and solid contact rates—the supporting cast has struggled mightily, and the team’s inability to string together hits with runners in scoring position has contributed to an anemic scoring output.

The pitching has fared no better, with Paul Skenes posting strong individual strikeout numbers but not receiving consistent run support or defensive backing. Pittsburgh’s bullpen has also faltered under pressure, making late-inning comebacks an uphill battle on most nights. Defensively, too many miscues and poorly timed errors have compounded the Pirates’ woes, and the lack of depth is beginning to show across the roster. Saturday’s game represents a critical opportunity for the Braves to take advantage of a reeling opponent and push themselves back to even on the season, while the Pirates are simply desperate to stop the bleeding and restore some morale on their home field. Despite both teams struggling ATS in their respective settings—Atlanta on the road and Pittsburgh at home—the Braves have covered in four of their last five meetings against the Pirates, and history leans their way in this series. Expect the Braves to come out aggressive, trying to establish early offense against Pittsburgh’s unsettled rotation and to lean on their veteran arms to preserve any lead. For the Pirates, keeping this game close early and capitalizing on any defensive lapses by Atlanta will be key to breaking their losing streak. With pressure mounting on both clubs for different reasons, Saturday’s clash at PNC Park has the feel of a tone-setting game as each tries to shift the narrative of their early-season story.