Pirates-Braves Lines Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Turner Field. The Pirates will give the ball to ace starter Paul Maholm in this one. Lefthander Maholm is 4-2 this season with a 3.94 ERA. Meanwhile, it'll be Javier Vazquez who starts for the Braves. Righthander Vazquez is 4-5 with a 3.54 ERA so far this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Braves listed as 175-moneyline favorites versus the Pirates, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Pirates snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-2 victory over the Braves on Wednesday, as +200 underdogs. The game's five runs went UNDER the night's posted over/under (8.5). Adam LaRoche led the Pirates with two runs batted in, John Grabow collected the win in relief, and Matt Capps closed out the game with his 14th save. Brian McCann went 2-for-4 at the plate with the Braves, who had been -220 favorites. Jair Jurrjens allowed four hits and two runs over six innings in the loss. Team records: Pittsburgh: 27-32 SU Atlanta: 29-29 SU Pittsburgh most recently: When playing on Thursday are 5-5 Before playing Detroit are 5-5 After playing Atlanta are 6-4 After a win are 5-5 Atlanta most recently: When playing on Thursday are 8-2 Before playing Baltimore are 6-4 After playing Pittsburgh are 4-6 After a loss are 5-5 A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games on the road Pittsburgh is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games Pittsburgh is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Atlanta The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games Atlanta is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh Next up: Pittsburgh home to Detroit, Friday, June 12 Atlanta at Baltimore, Friday, June 12