The Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks continue their series on Wednesday night in Phoenix, with both clubs looking to gain traction early in the season. Pittsburgh enters this contest with a winning record and a slight edge in most statistical categories, while Arizona is trying to build off a dominant shutout win over Pittsburgh in the previous game. The headliner in this Pirates vs Diamondbacks game is Pittsburgh starting pitcher Paul Skenes, but there is a lot more to this matchup than the Pirates' ace.
Pirates vs Diamondbacks Pick
Pick: Diamondbacks ML
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Date & Time: Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 9:40 PM ET
Starting Pitchers: Paul Skenes vs Mike Soroka
Stadium: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Broadcast: MLB.tv
Key Storylines
Pittsburgh enters at 19-17 and has won 3 of its last 5 games.
The Arizona Diamondbacks sit at 17-17 and recently snapped a losing streak with a 9-0 win over the Pirates last time out.
The Pirates have a clear edge in team ERA at 3.88 compared to Arizona at 4.92, but that was not enough to help the Pirates win on the road last night.
Pittsburgh is listed as a road favorite in this game, with the starting pitching matchup having a lot to do with that.
Pitching Matchup
Paul Skenes: 4-2 record, 3.18 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 39 strikeouts in 34 innings.
Mike Soroka: 4-1 record, 4.70 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 36 strikeouts in 30.2 innings.
Skenes has allowed 22 hits and 4 home runs this season.
Soroka has given up 35 hits and shows less command and consistency.
I'm expecting a close game here, with the big question being whether or not the Pirates can furnish Paul Skenes some run support. That has not always been a given for Pittsburgh, and Tuesday's shutout loss was another sign that scoring might not be easy for the Pirates no matter who is on the mound here. I think this game stays close throughout and that the Diamondbacks eventually break through against the Pittsburgh bullpen once Skenes is removed from the game. I'll take the Diamondbacks to win this contest as a slight underdog at home on Wednesday night.
Affiliate DisclosureATS.io uses affiliate links. If you sign up through a link on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Rankings are based on hands-on testing and published criteria, and affiliate relationships do not determine placement.
