The Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game is set for 7:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 22, with the Dodgers entering as home favorites, returning a 1.36x payout if they win via PrizePicks.
Today’s contest is the second matchup of the final three-game series between these teams. The Dodgers won the first series 2-1 and got off on the right foot last night with a 5-4 extra-innings victory. Will the Pirates even the series up in tonight's game on FOX? Or will the Dodgers win another series against the Buccos?
Below, we'll break down our Pirates vs. Dodgers prediction and picks for Saturday’s MLB game, including the spread, over/under, and key player picks for PrizePicks.
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Pirates vs. Dodgers, Winner Payout, Over/Under – Saturday, August 22
Pirates fans came into this season with high expectations for their ballclub after making some key offseason acquisitions to their batting order. While they are very likely to surpass last year’s record of 71-91, their current record of 63-67 still has them near the basement of the NL Central, sitting 17.5 games back of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.
Pittsburgh will be sending flamethrowing RHP Jared Jones (3.76 xFIP) to the mound tonight in hopes of tying the series up.
It’s been a superb bounce-back season for the righty after missing all of 2025 following right elbow UCL surgery. Jones’ 4.78 ERA sits over a run above his 3.76 xFIP, suggesting there could be some positive regression in his future, although it may not come tonight against an elite Dodgers lineup.
Following a brief skid earlier this month, all is well again in Los Angeles (sans the whole Mark Walters situation), as the Dodgers have won four games in a row, bringing their overall record to an impressive 78-51. L.A. has a sizeable nine-game lead over the San Diego Padres for the lead in the NL West and seems all but certain to win the division for the 13th time in the last 14 seasons.
The Dodgers will have prized trade deadline acquisition LHP Tarik Skubal (2.71 xFIP) toeing the rubber for them tonight. Skubal is in the midst of yet another dominant season with a sparkling 2.85 ERA but has yet to have a truly memorable start in Dodger blue.
He has surrendered multiple runs in two of his three starts and has yet to strike out more than 7 in any start for his new team. Perhaps all that will change tonight in a matchup against a cold, free-swinging Pirates offense.
Pirates vs. Dodgers Winner Payout, Over/Under – Saturday, August 22
The Dodgers enter Saturday’s game as home favorites against the Pirates, returning a 1.36x payout if they win outright, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
Here are the full payouts for the Pirates vs. Dodgers game on PrizePicks.
Make your Pirates vs. Dodgers prediction on the spread or over/under on PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money—available in 36 states!
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Pirates vs. Dodgers Prediction on Winner – 8/22/26
Here are the key game stats and trends behind our Pirates vs. Dodgers prediction on the winner for Saturday, August 22.
Unless otherwise noted, data used in this article is from Baseball Savant or FanGraphs.
- The Dodgers offense hasn’t been their typical elite self over the last month, ranking 12th in wRC+ (99).
- They have been head and shoulders better than the Pirates offense, though, with Pittsburgh ranking 26th in wRC+ (83) over the last month.
- Los Angeles also has a significant advantage in the starting pitcher department tonight, with Skubal having an xFIP almost a full run better than Jones.
- Skubal has also been better in the second half of the season with an unbelievable 2.14 FIP compared to his first-half FIP of 3.04.
- Jones, meanwhile, has struggled in the second half of the season, as indicated by his 4.74 FIP compared to his first-half FIP of 3.66.
- The bullpen matchup is relatively even, but L.A. still holds the season-long edge with a 4.03 xFIP (10th) compared to the Pirates' 4.21 xFIP (17th).
Lock in your Pirates vs. Dodgers prediction on PrizePicks before the first pitch.
Pirates vs. Dodgers Picks, Player Stats for PrizePicks – 8/22/26
Here are the top Pirates vs. Dodgers picks to target on PrizePicks for Saturday, August 22. Today’s MLB picks for PrizePicks include Jared Jones and Tarik Skubal.
Pirates SP Jared Jones vs. Dodgers: 2.5 Earned Runs Allowed
- As mentioned, Jones has struggled down the stretch this season, allowing more than 2.5 runs in three of his last four starts.
- After missing the entire 2025 season, it’s possible the Pirates righty is dealing with fatigue. He has been leaving pitches in the middle of the plate and has seen his HR/9 spike to 1.86 in the second half of the season, compared to 1.29 in the first half.
- Jones surrendered at least 1 home run in each of his last five games and now runs into a Dodgers lineup that has immense power up and down the lineup.
- L.A. is ranked fifth in the majors in ISO (.170) and tied for first in wRC+ (111).
- Jones is a fastball/slider pitcher, throwing those two pitches a combined 80.4% of the time.
- The Dodgers have thrived against those offerings with a 10.1 wFB/C (seventh) and 7.8 wSL/C (ninth).
Add Jared Jones to your PrizePicks Lineup now.
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Dodgers SP Tarik Skubal vs. Pirates: 4.5 Hits Allowed
- Skubal has given up fewer than 4.5 hits in four of his last five starts.
- The Dodgers lefty has been cooking in the second half of the season, proven by a minuscule 2.14 xFIP and now faces a Pirates lineup that is ice-cold.
- Pittsburgh has an 82 wRC+ over the last week (23rd) and is tied for the eighth-highest K% in the league during that span (25%).
- The Pirates struggle mightily against the changeup with a -5.1 wCH/C (23rd).
- Skubal throws his changeup 26.3% of the time this season and has leaned on it even more in recent starts, throwing it 38.5% and 33.7% of the time in his last two starts.
Add Tarik Skubal to your PrizePicks Lineup now.
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Two teams headed in opposite directions meet up for what could be a lopsided affair in Los Angeles tonight. Will the Pirates pull off the upset to even the series one apiece? Or will the Dodgers continue to roll by dismantling an inferior foe in front of their home crowd?
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