Pirates vs Angels Pick: Surprisingly Competitive LA Sends Anderson to Face Bucs (Apr 24)

• For our Pirates vs Angels pick, we look at LA sending Tyler Anderson to the mound against Pittsburgh’s Carmen Mlodzinski
• LA is one of the more surprising teams in MLB, even though they are hovering around .500
• Pittsburgh is predictably floundering, well under .500, and looking at another long season

Pirates’ Mlodzinski Is Adapting Shakily to Full-Time Starting

Carmen Mlodzinski showed promise as a reliever in 2024. He was moved to the starting rotation full-time in 2025 and has been a work in progress. His second start against the Cardinals was excellent, allowing 1 run and 5 hits in 5 innings. In his other three starts, he has thrown 12 innings and given up 13 earned runs.

Mlodzinski has pitched to three Angels batters: Travis d’Arnaud, Luis Rengifo, and Jorge Soler. Soler is 1 for 2; d’Arnaud is 1 for 2 with a double; and Rengifo is 0 for 1.

The Pirates have been getting good offensive firepower from Joey Bart, who has an OPS around .800. But Ke’Bryan Hayes, Emmanuel Valdez, and Adam Frazier have been slumping all season.

LA’s Veteran Anderson Has Been Excellent

Tyler Anderson, 35, has an ERA of 2.08 after four starts. In his past two outings, he has logged 11.2 innings and allowed 4 hits and no runs. The veteran will be a solid piece for a contender if the Angels make him available at the trade deadline.

Several Pirates have handled Anderson in the past. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is 3 for 10 with a double. Bart is 2 for 10 with a home run. Bryan Reynolds is 4 for 6 with a double and a home run. Dennis Santana is 1 for 1 with a double and 2 RBIs.

LA was expected to be one of baseball’s worst teams in 2025, but they have held their own. Mike Trout is a shadow of what he was, batting under .200, though he does have 8 home runs. Overall, the Angels are batting around .220. They have some positives in Kyren Paris with an OPS above .960. Soler has hit with power. D’Arnaud is hitting just barely over .100.

Pirates vs Angels Pick: Anderson Will Keep Rolling

The Pirates are not hitting, and Anderson has been dominant with his control and by changing speeds. He will keep his string going and hold down the Bucs. The Angels will take this one outright.