Injuries Mount for Red Sox Ahead of Pirates Series
Red Sox vs Pirates Odds: Boston -135 Favorite to Win Series
Injuries are mounting for the Boston Red Sox. After dropping another series at home, the Red Sox will hit the road Friday (6:40 p.m. ET) for the start of a three-game interleague set against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Boston is a -1.5 (+160) favorite on the run line and -105 on the moneyline, while Pittsburgh is +1.5 (-192) on the spread and -115 to win outright. Meanwhile, the projected total is 8.5, with a slight lean to the Under at -118.
Boston is also a -135 favorite to win the series, compared to +105 for Pittsburgh.
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down both teams and assess the Red Sox vs Pirates odds in our MLB game preview.
Boston Red Sox vs Pittsburgh Pirates 
Day/Time:
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
Streaming: NESN
Red Sox vs Pirates Betting Trends
The Boston Red Sox are 10-10 against the run line but just 2-8 over their last 10 games. Boston’s games have trended slightly toward the Under, as the Red Sox are 9-10-1 against the Over/Under. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates are 12-7 ATS, fashioning the third-highest cover rate (63.2%) in MLB. As for the Over/Under, the Pirates are 11-8.
Be sure to remember these betting trends when assessing the Red Sox vs Pirates odds.Â
Injuries Mounting for BoSox
Thursday’s 5-4 loss to Cleveland dropped Boston to 10-10 as the Red Sox heads back on the road for a six-game road trip. The Red Sox went 3-7 on their recent 10-game homestand, failing to build on their encouraging start to the season.
Injuries have crept up of late, muddying the Red Sox’s outlook. The Red Sox have already lost shortstop Trevor Story (shoulder) and pitcher Lucas Giolito (elbow) to season-ending injuries. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill (concussion) and pitcher Nick Pivetta (elbow) are also on the IL, while third baseman Rafael Devers has been slowed by a bone bruise in his knee. Devers went hitless with three strikeouts in Wednesday’s 2-0 win and sat out the following day.
Oddsmakers are skeptical of Boston’s staying power, pricing the Red Sox +330 to make the American League playoffs. They currently have the fifth-longest pennant odds for any AL team at +3500.
Without a healthy Devers, Boston’s lineup lacks punch. The Red Sox are middle-of-the-pack offensively, ranking 17th in the majors in runs and 22nd in OPS. Conversely, they have the major’s best team ERA at 2.70.
Future Awaits in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has hit the skids after a strong start, dropping six of its last eight games on the MLB schedule to fall to 11-8. The Pirates were swept in a three-game set by the Mets when they were outscored 18-5.
Although the Pirates are still in decent shape in the National League Central, their focus is very much on the future. Paul Skenes, baseball’s No. 1 overall prospect, has been tearing up Triple-A Indianapolis but is not expected to reach the majors until at least next month. The Pirates also have a heralded rookie in Jared Jones, who is on an innings limit.
As such, expectations are reasonably low. Pittsburgh is +260 to make the NL playoffs and just +700 to win the NL Central, the longest Major League Baseball odds in the division.
Pittsburgh is also dealing with injuries. Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who is hitting .277 with a .746 OPS, missed the final two games of the Mets series because of lower back tightness.
Despite their recent struggles, the Pirates have been favorable for bettors. Their 12 wins ATS are tied for second most in MLB behind both the Chicago Cubs and Guardians (13). Keep that in mind when analyzing the Red Sox vs Pirates odds.Â
Series Probables
Game 1
Friday, 6:40 p.m. ET
Brayan Bello vs Quinn Priester
Bello, Boston’s staff ace, is 2-1 with a 3.92 ERA through four starts. He threw a season-high 107 pitches in his last outing (5.1 innings, two runs), a 5-4 victory over the Angels on Sunday. The Pirates will counter with Priester, who was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace the injured Marco Gonzales (forearm strain).
Priester, a 23-year-old former first-round draft pick, made 10 appearances (eight starts) with Pittsburgh last season. He didn’t perform well, going 3-3 with a 7.74 ERA. But his recent performance in the minor leagues (3.95 ERA in 13.2 innings) is encouraging.
Game 2
Saturday, 4:05 p.m. ET
Kutter Crawford vs Mitch Keller
Crawford has gotten off to a spectacular start, allowing just two runs (one earned) over his first 21.1 innings. Despite that, the 28-year-old right-hander is still looking for his first win of the season. He threw 5.2 shutout innings against Cleveland in his last start, a 6-0 loss last Monday. The Red Sox are averaging 4.2 runs in his four appearances, so Crawford clearly seems to be a victim of hard luck.
He will square off with Keller, who has won his last two starts and has a 4.50 ERA on the season. Keller threw a season-high seven innings against Philadelphia last Sunday, allowing two runs in a 9-2 win.
Game 3
Sunday, 1:35 p.m. ET
TBA vs Martin Perez
Perez owns a 2.55 ERA in his first four starts this season. The veteran southpaw has allowed only one home run in 24.2 innings. Boston, meanwhile, has yet to decide on a starter.
For Major League Baseball scores, odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
