Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers are making a road trip to Pittsburgh to square off against the Pirates at PNC Park. This interleague matchup starts at 7:05 p.m. ET and you can watch the game on ATPT and FSSW.
Texas Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Bookmakers have Texas (+125) as the underdog to Pittsburgh (-135). If you’re thinking this game’s total is going to finish below 8.5 runs, then bookmakers are putting up -105 odds to play the under. Picking the over return -115 odds. There’s a runline of Rangers +1.5 (-170) and Pirates -1.5 (+150) for this matchup.
The Rangers have gone 16-16 SU this year and are 19-13 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 5.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline in the season’s early going and 3.0 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 16-15 SU and 18-13 ATS. They’ve gained 1.9 units for moneyline bettors and 3.3 units ATS. Pittsburgh has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Pittsburgh games have an over/under record of 14-16-1 so far in 2019. Texas has been a decent over bet with a total record of 19-12-1.
Adrian Sampson is getting the nod for the visiting Rangers. The right-handed Sampson (0-1, 3.58 ERA) has recorded 19 strikeouts in 27.2 innings so far. He’s 0-0 with five strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Pittsburgh this year.
The Pirates will send lefty Steven Brault (0-1, 8.31 ERA) to the mound. Brault has 11 strikeouts and four walks as well as a WHIP of 1.62. Brault is 0-0 with three strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Texas this year.
Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.4 runs per game and its starters own a 5.50 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 8.08 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.76, along with a K-per-9 of 7.60.
The Rangers offense has slashed .254/.338/.455 on its way to 5.9 runs scored per game in 2019, including 6.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Elvis Andrus and Shin-soo Choo have led Texas’ offense. Andrus is hitting .333/.391/.532 with five home runs, 23 RBIs, 19 runs and six stolen bases, while Choo (.328/.416/.555) is up to four homers, 14 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
In the home-team dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitchers have allowed 4.4 runs per game overall this year. Its starting pitching staff has a 3.43 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.20 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 10.7 K/9.
The Pittsburgh hitters are putting up 3.5 runs per contest, including 3.6 per game over its last 10 games and 5.0 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .251/.311/.390 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
First baseman Josh Bell and right fielder Melky Cabrera have led the charge for the Pirates’ hitters so far. Bell is slashing .287/.364/.617 with eight home runs, 25 RBIs and 20 runs scored, and Cabrera’s line sits at .337/.376/.484 with 32 hits, eight RBIs and nine runs.
The Rangers have gained 0.8 units and are 5-3 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in five of those games, compared to two that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Pirates have netted 3.2 units and are 13-8 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in eight of those games, compared to 12 that went under the total.
Rangers at Pirates Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- Texas has tallied 15 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Pittsburgh has 16 XBH over its last five.
- The Pirates have won four of their last five games SU.
- The Texas defense has permitted four errors over the last 10 games, compared to nine errors for Pittsburgh over its last 10.
- The Rangers have hit 19 home runs in their last 10 games. The Pirates have hit 10 over their last 10.
- The Rangers have a team OPS of .793 this season and an OPS of .701 when facing left-handed pitchers. The Pirates’ OPS stands at .665 overall and .581 against lefties.
