Boston Red Sox at Pittsburgh Pirates odds, picks and predictions
The Boston Red Sox (10-10) visit the Pittsburgh Pirates (11-8) on Friday with 1st pitch from PNC Park scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Red Sox vs. Piratesodds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Pirates won all 3 games last season
Boston finished its series against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday with a 5-4 home loss while failing to cover as a home favorite. After going down 5-1 in the, a 3-run 6th was not enough to overcome the deficit. LF Jarren Duran scored 2 runs and had 2 RBIs while RHP Cooper Criswell gave up 1 ER in 2 1/3 IP to pick up the loss.
Pittsburgh lost 9-1 on Wednesday and was swept in a 3-game series by the New York Mets. C Henry Davis scored the team's only run off a DH Bryan Reynolds RBI while LHP Bailey Falter allowed 2 ER in 5 innings and took the loss.
Red Sox at Pirates projected starters
RHP Brayan Bello vs. RHP Quinn Priester
Bello (2-1, 3.92 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 1.21 WHIP, 2.18 BB/9 and 8.27 K/9 through 20.2 IP.
- Red Sox are 3-1 in his 4 starts; Bello has allowed just 9 total ER
- In his 3rd season with Boston, Bello is on pace to have the lowest ERA of his career
Priester makes his 1st start of the season.
- Went 3-3 with a 7.74 ERA last season in 10 games, starting 8
- Was 1-1 with a 6.49 ERA in 5 road games in 2023
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Red Sox at Pirates odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:15 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Red Sox +100 (bet $100 to win $120) | Pirates -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Red Sox +1.5 (-200) | Pirates -1.5 (+160)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Red Sox at Pirates picks and predictions
Prediction
Red Sox 5, Pirates 4
Moneyline
BET RED SOX (+100).
The Red Sox face a Pirates pitcher who struggled in his time in the majors last season and will be seeing his 1st action of the season. The Pirates are 0-3 in their last 3 games and 2-6 in their last 8. While they return home on Friday, the Red Sox have had hot bats recently, scoring 4 or more runs in 4 of their last 6.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
While Boston is expected to win against an unproven pitcher, neither team has played to par of late. The value is better on Boston's moneyline.
Over/Under
BET OVER 8.5 (-105).
Boston has hit the Over in 2 of its last 3 games and has scored 4 or more runs in 6 of its last 9. Pittsburgh has hit the Over in 3 of its last 4 games and has given up 6 or more runs in 2 of its last 3.
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