​The Atlanta Braves defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Thursday, improving to 53-38 while the Pirates fell to 47-46. Pittsburgh had carried a perfect game bid by Jared Jones through six innings, but Atlanta broke through in the eighth with a pair of runs and added another in the ninth for insurance, sealing the win. This victory ended Atlanta’s three-game skid, just as Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak with their prior win. Entering July, Atlanta’s offense sits among the league’s best, ranking second in runs scored (51), third in home runs (14), and tenth in batting average (.260). On the mound, the Braves carry a 5.50 ERA (22nd), contributing to a 4-4 start to the month. They now prepare for a three-game road trip to St. Louis to close out the first half of the season.
Pittsburgh, by contrast, had shown spark on Wednesday with an offensive outburst but cooled on Thursday. The Pirates have been shut out seven times this season, and in the games immediately following such outputs, they’ve posted a 3-4 record with an average of 4.2 runs per game. Through July, Pittsburgh has led MLB with a .312 batting average, plus 81 hits, 12 stolen bases, and strong rankings in on-base percentage, OPS, and slugging. They’ll host Milwaukee for a three-game series this weekend before the All-Star break.
Now, let’s break down the matchup and what to expect. Here’s the latest information you need ahead of first pitch, including how to watch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and expert predictions, picks, and best bets from our modeling tools and staff.
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Game details and how to watch Braves at Pirates
Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026
Time: 12:35 PM EST
Site: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
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Odds for the Braves at the Pirates
As of Thursday:
Spread: Pirates +1.5 (-155), Braves -1.5 (+128)
Total: 9.5
Probable starting pitchers
Braves: Bryce Elder — 2026 stats: 98.2 IP, 5-6, 4.01 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 83 Ks, 30 BB
Pirates: Mitch Keller — 2026 stats: 100.1 IP, 6-6, 5.02 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 74 Ks, 33 BB
Who’s hot and who’s not
The Braves’ Michael Harris III is hitting .307 with 97 hits, 16 home runs, and 53 RBIs over 316 at-bats.
The Braves’ Austin Riley is batting .210 with 69 hits and 107 strikeouts over 190 at-bats.
The Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn is hitting .293 with 86 hits, 16 home runs, and 61 RBIs over 294 at-bats.
The Pirates’ Marcell Ozuna is hitting .204 with 44 hits and 74 strikeouts over 216 at-bats.
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