The Atlanta Braves sit at 52-35, first in the NL East, and are the clear class of this matchup against a .500 Pittsburgh Pirates squad riddled with injuries — Oneil Cruz, Spencer Horwitz, and Konnor Griffin are all on the IL. The Braves' own injury concerns are longer-term and don't impact today's lineup, and their 3.55 ERA rotation is built to handle a vulnerable Pittsburgh offense. Talent wins, and today the talent is in Atlanta's dugout.

Nobody believes in the Pirates at home against a Braves squad that is BANGED UP — Sean Murphy is on the 60-day IL with a fractured finger, AJ Smith-Shawver is out post-elbow surgery, and Robert Suarez just hit the IL with elbow inflammation! Pittsburgh gets the run line cushion of +1.5 at PNC Park, and a depleted Atlanta bullpen is exactly the kind of crack an underdog needs to sneak through. They count the Bucos out every single day, and every single day is a chance to prove the doubters wrong!