Astros vs Pirates: Game 3 prediction, odds, injuries and picks

The Houston Astros and the Pittsburgh Pirates have traded identical 3-0 wins in the first two games as they head into the decider. The Astros on the road have been subpar, winning just 11 of their 33 games this season. Pittsburgh has won 14 games at PNC Park this season.

The Astros need to keep winning to keep hold of first place in the AL West standings, with the Seattle Mariners just 0.5 games behind. They are unbeaten in their last three series.

The Pirates, meanwhile, remain last in the NL Central standings with a 23-39 record. They will look to avoid their second straight series after the San Diego Padres beat them the previous week in three games.

Astros vs. Pirates Game 3: Betting Odds & Weather

Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 6:40 p.m. ET

Money Line: Astros -148

Over/Under: Over 7.5 runs

Weather: Rainy, 80 degrees F, 53% chance of precipitation, wind six mph out

Astros vs. Pirates Game 3: Injuries & Lineups

Injuries

Astros

Chas McCormick: 10-Day IL (oblique),
Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow),
Zach Dezenzo: 10-Day IL (hand),
Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow),
Yordan Alvarez: 10-Day IL (hand),
Spencer Arrighetti: 15-Day IL (thumb),
Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow),
Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (elbow),
J.P. France: 60-Day IL (shoulder),
Taylor Trammell: 10-Day IL (calf),
Pedro Leon: 10-Day IL (knee)

Pirates

Joey Bart: 7-Day IL (concussion),
Colin Holderman: 15-Day IL (thumb),
Enmanuel Valdez: 60-Day IL (shoulder),
Justin Lawrence: 60-Day IL (elbow),
Tim Mayza: 60-Day IL (shoulder),
Jared Jones: 60-Day IL (elbow),
Johan Oviedo: 60-Day IL (elbow),
Dauri Moreta: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Expected Lineups

Astros

SS Jeremy Pena [R]
3B I. Paredes [R]
2B Jose Altuve [R]
1B C. Walker [R]
DH Yainer Diaz [R]
C V. Caratini [S]
CF Jake Meyers [R]
RF Cam Smith [R]
LF Jacob Melton [L]

Pirates

CF Oneil Cruz [L]
DH A. McCutchen [R]
RF B. Reynolds [S]
3B K. Hayes [R]
2B N. Gonzales [R]
LF Tommy Pham [R]
1B E. Rodriguez [S]
C Henry Davis [R]
SS I. Kiner-Falefa [R]

Astros vs. Pirates Game 3: Prediction and Picks

Framber Valdez starts on the mound for the Houston Astros. The pitcher has 5-4, 3.12 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 73 strikeouts this season.

He is starting to show the same consistency of the strong 2024 season, having induced a one-run full game effort in his last start. He will be up against the Pirates' Mitch Keller (1-7, 3.73 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 56 strikeouts), who hasn't had the best of starts to his season.

With the bat, Jose Altuve has finally started to show some form, going 12-for-37 in the last ten games with four RBIs and three homers. Oneil Cruz continues to have a strong slugging percentage of .474 for the Pirates.

Both teams have an identical .257 average in the last ten games, but the Pirates' pitching outscored the Astros with a 3.00 ERA compared to a 4.14 ERA.

Prediction: Astros 5, Pirates 4

Picks: Astros -148, Over 7.5 runs

About the author

Nikhil Parshy is a baseball and ice hockey journalist at Sportskeeda, and after starting out as a cricket reporter, he has been an analyst with SK since November 2022. His interest in the sports were piqued a few years back after watching highlights on YouTube and he has followed the game ever since.

The Chicago Cubs breaking the 108-year curse in 2016 to lift the World Series remains Nikhil's favorite baseball moment. Two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani has been his favorite player ever since he started following the game, while the LA Dodgers are his favorite team.

As a writer, Nikhil maintains a strong attention to detail and rigorously cross-checks information. He seeks to strike a balance in his writing such that the regular reader gains an insight into player profiles, while also keeping in mind that the non-regular reader is not put off by jargon and shallow analysis.

Nikhil is an avid public speaker, and when not writing about baseball, he regularly participates in debates and quizzes.

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Edited by Ribin Peter

Astros vs Pirates: Game 3 prediction, odds, injuries and picks - June 5, 2025

Astros vs. Pirates Game 3: Betting Odds & Weather

Astros vs. Pirates Game 3: Injuries & Lineups

Injuries

Astros

Pirates

Expected Lineups

Astros

Pirates

Astros vs. Pirates Game 3: Prediction and Picks