Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (59-76) and the Boston Red Sox (75-60) open a 3-game interleague series Friday at Fenway Park in Boston. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Pirates vs. Red Sox odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting; Red Sox won 3-0 in 2024

The Pirates split an entertaining 4-game series in St. Louis Monday through Thursday, falling 4-1 in the series finale against the Cardinals as slight underdogs (+105) as the Under (8.5) cashed for the second straight game. Despite the loss, the Bucs are still 6-2 in the past 8 games.

Pittsburgh's lone run Thursday came courtesy of a solo HR by OF Tommy Pham in the top of the first inning, as it led 1-0 until the bottom of the third. The Under is 4-2 in the past 6 games for Pittsburgh, while going 4-2-1 in the past 7 games on the road.

Boston topped the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 in the series finale Thursday, capping off a 4-game sweep. The Under cashed in all 4 games, while the Red Sox were favorites in each of the outings. As a favorite, the Red Sox have cashed in 5 games in a row, while going 7-1 in the past 8 outings. SS Trevor Story and DH Rob Refsnyder led the way with solo HRs in Thursday's 3-2 matinee victory.

Red Sox top pitching prospect LHP Payton Tolle will come up from the minors to make his MLB debut opposite RHP Paul Skenes.

Pirates at Red Sox projected starters

RHP Paul Skenes vs. LHP Payton Tolle

Skenes (8-9, 2.07 ERA) makes his 28th start this season. He has a 0.94 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 10.1 K/9 through 161 innings.

  • Last start: Win, 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 7 K in 4-0 home victory vs. Colorado Rockies Sunday
  • 2025 road stats: 3-5, 2.50 ERA (79 1/3 IP, 22 ER), 4 HR, 23 BB, 96 K, 1.03 WHIP in 14 starts (1 CG)
  • Has never faced Red Sox

Tolle (1-1, 3.60 ERA) makes MLB debut. Then22-year-old had a 0.87 WHIP across 15 innings in 3 starts for Triple-A Worcester, while going 3-5 with a 3.04 ERA (91 2/3 IP, 31 ER), 0.99 WHIP in 18 starts and 20 appearances across 3 minor-league levels.

  • Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 9 K in game vs. Triple-A Jacksonville on Aug. 22.
  • 2025 home stats (A, AA and AAA): 1-2, 3.27 ERA (52 1/3 IP, 19 ER), 7 HR, 10 BB, 76 K, 0.97 in 10 starts (11 appearances)

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Pirates at Red Sox odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:36 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Pirates -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Red Sox -106 (bet $106 to win $100 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Pirates -1.5 (+155) | Red Sox +1.5 (-184 at FanDuel)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -105 | U: -115)

Pirates at Red Sox picks and predictions

Prediction

Pirates 3, Red Sox 2

Moneyline

The PIRATES (-110) are worth a look in this interleague series opener and potential pitcher's duel.

We know what Skenes can do, but the wild-card here is how Tolle reacts in his MLB debut against a Pirates offense which has been toothless most of the season, although Pittsburgh has played good ball lately.

Run line/Against the spread

PIRATES +1.5 (-184) is a little on the steep side, but not terribly out of line if you'd like a little bit of insurance, and you just can't trust Pittsburgh straight up, despite the presence of Skenes. He has been a little more ordinary on the road, rather than at home, and Boston does have its top pitching prospect going on the other side.

Over/Under

UNDER 8 (-110) might be the best play on the board in this interleague series opener.

Boston cashed low in 4 games in a row in Baltimore earlier this week, and the Under has a 3-2 edge in the past 5 games at Fenway Park.

For Pittsburgh, the Under is 4-2 in the past 6 games, while going 7-4-2 across the previous 13 outings.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Pittsburgh Pirates at Boston Red Sox odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Daniel Dobish, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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