Red Sox host the Pirates to start 3-game series

Pittsburgh Pirates (59-76, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Boston Red Sox (75-60, second in the AL East)

Boston; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Paul Skenes (8-9, 2.07 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 181 strikeouts); Red Sox: Payton Tolle (0-0)

BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Red Sox host the Pittsburgh Pirates to open a three-game series.

Boston is 75-60 overall and 41-25 in home games. The Red Sox have a 52-22 record in games when they record eight or more hits.

Pittsburgh has gone 20-46 in road games and 59-76 overall. The Pirates have gone 39-24 in games when they record at least eight hits.

The matchup Friday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jarren Duran has 13 home runs, 51 walks and 73 RBIs while hitting .258 for the Red Sox. Roman Anthony is 15 for 41 with a double, three home runs and six RBIs over the last 10 games.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa has a .268 batting average to lead the Pirates, and has 20 doubles, two triples and a home run. Jared Triolo is 13 for 30 with two home runs and five RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Red Sox: 7-3, .241 batting average, 2.57 ERA, outscored opponents by 14 runs

Pirates: 7-3, .254 batting average, 2.65 ERA, outscored opponents by 19 runs

INJURIES: Red Sox: Richard Fitts: 15-Day IL (biceps), Wilyer Abreu: 10-Day IL (calf), Luis Guerrero: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tanner Houck: 60-Day IL (flexor), Hunter Dobbins: 60-Day IL (acl), Marcelo Mayer: 10-Day IL (wrist), Liam Hendriks: 60-Day IL (hip), Josh Winckowski: 60-Day IL (elbow), Triston Casas: 60-Day IL (knee), Kutter Crawford: 60-Day IL (knee), Patrick Sandoval: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Pirates: Endy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Enmanuel Valdez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Justin Lawrence: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tim Mayza: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jared Jones: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.