Boston Red Sox vs
Pittsburgh PiratesPredictions & Preview

Pittsburgh Pirates Favored Over Boston Red Sox for Saturday Matchup at PNC Park

The Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates will face off at PNC Park on Saturday with a 4:05 p.m. ET first pitch. Boston's Kutter Crawford, with a 0.42 ERA, will take the mound against Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller, who has a 4.50 ERA. Pittsburgh is the current favorite with a -116 line. In terms of injuries, Boston's Rafael Devers is questionable while Pittsburgh's Ke'Bryan Hayes and Joey Bart are also questionable.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Red Sox +102 | Pirates -116
• Spread: Red Sox +1.5 (-199) | Pirates -1.5 (+173)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Pittsburgh will win straight-up is 54%.

Boston vs Pittsburgh Stats

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox recently struggled in a series against Cleveland, losing three out of four games and being outscored 21-13. Despite winning three series against the Athletics and Angels (twice), questions remain about whether the team is built to contend this season and beyond. Boston's offensive stats are not particularly strong, with low rankings in OBP and OPS, but their pitching staff has excelled with the lowest ERA in the league. Crawford, who will start on Saturday in Pittsburgh, has had a strong start to the 2024 season, holding opponents to minimal runs and strikeouts. Overall, the team has a power ranking of 17, with a decent offense, strong defense, and a record of 11-10 this season. Online sportsbooks are offering generous bonus codes to enhance potential winnings from wagers.

Pittsburgh Pirates Analysis

The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to bounce back at home against the Boston Red Sox after being swept by the Mets in their last series. The Pirates struggled offensively, scoring only two runs in their last two games. Despite their recent struggles, Pittsburgh ranks 9th in on-base percentage, 17th in OPS, 23rd in home runs, and 11th in RBI in the league. On the pitching side, the Pirates have a 3.94 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, ranking 13th and 5th, respectively. The team will turn to Keller as their starting pitcher, who had success at home last season and in his most recent outing. Pittsburgh has a strong power ranking of 3 and is averaging 4.84 runs per game on offense while giving up 4.26 points per game on defense. Boston won two out of three matchups against Pittsburgh in their last meetings. For more MLB picks, consider checking out our Expert Picks!

Keller and Pirates Favored Over Red Sox Despite Recent Strong Performances by Crawford

Despite recent strong performances by Crawford, I have more confidence in Keller and the Pirates over the Red Sox. Boston may be without Devers on Saturday, weakening an already struggling lineup. The Red Sox are missing key players like Story and O'Neill, further impacting their offense. Keller has shown consistency in his recent starts and previously outperformed the Red Sox. The Pirates have demonstrated strong hitting against both left and right-handed pitchers, with better statistics against right-handers. In their previous meeting with Crawford, the Pirates scored seven runs, showcasing their potential against him. Additionally, Pittsburgh has a winning record and solid offensive numbers in day games this season. Given these factors, I am opting for the Pittsburgh Moneyline at odds below -130.

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