The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to face off against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. The action at Globe Life Field is scheduled to start at 1:35 p.m. CT.
Pittsburgh (58-66 SU, 68-56 RL, and 59-62-3 O/U) has not yet announced a starting pitcher for the afternoon matchup. Although right-hander Paul Skenes is typically slated to pitch in the final game of the series, the Pirates have decided to give him an extra day of rest, moving his start to Thursday. Instead, they may utilize a bullpen pitcher to begin the game, with potential candidates being right-handers Domingo Germán (3.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 6.0 IP) or Ryder Ryan (5.66 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 20.2 IP). Alternatively, they could implement a full bullpen strategy.
On the other hand, Texas (58-68 SU, 56-70 RL, and 57-64-5 O/U) has also not confirmed their starting pitcher. Left-hander Andrew Heaney (4-13 with a 4.20 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 25 appearances) is a likely option for the Rangers.
*Article published before the conclusion of Tuesday’s game.
Pittsburgh’s Struggles Post-All-Star Break
Pittsburgh has struggled significantly since the All-Star break, holding a record of 10-18. The team has gone 3-14 straight-up in their last 17 games, which included three series sweeps and a ten-game losing streak. With the season winding down, the question remains: can the Pirates find a way to be competitive?
The team’s offensive highlights come from left fielder Bryan Reynolds (19 HR, 69 RBI, and a .807 OPS) and shortstop Oneil Cruz (18 HR and a .779 OPS). However, the Pirates rank low in several key offensive categories, sitting at 26th in OBP (.301), 27th in OPS (.673), and 24th in home runs (124). On the pitching side, their staff has a 3.98 ERA (16th) and a 1.29 WHIP (19th), with 1,027 strikeouts (21st).
The Bucs have various pitching options for Wednesday’s game, but both Germán and Ryan have seen limited action this season. Germán is anticipated to pitch more innings than Ryan, but multiple relievers will likely be utilized. Pittsburgh’s bullpen currently ranks 24th in ERA (4.26) and 25th in WHIP (1.35).
Texas Rangers Seek Playoff Revival
The Texas Rangers find themselves in a challenging position as they aim for the postseason. The defending World Series champions are currently ten games below the .500 mark and eight games out of the National League Wild Card race. The pressing question is whether they can muster enough energy for a late-season push.
The Rangers’ offense is spearheaded by shortstop Corey Seager (28 HR, 68 RBI, and a .862 OPS), second baseman Marcus Semien (18 HR, 61 RBI, and a 3.9 WAR), and third baseman Josh Smith (.772 OPS and a 3.3 WAR). They rank 20th in OBP (.307), 22nd in OPS (.689), and 16th in home runs (138). On the pitching front, Texas holds a 4.32 ERA (23rd) and a 1.29 WHIP (20th).
While the Rangers have not confirmed their starting pitcher, Heaney appears to be the frontrunner. In his last outing, he allowed four runs on five hits with eight strikeouts over 4.1 innings against Minnesota. This season, he is 2-6 with a 3.93 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 11 home appearances (55.0 IP). Notably, Heaney has never faced the Pirates during his Major League Baseball career.
Analyzing Best Bets for Pirates vs. Rangers
Betting Trends: The Pirates have an impressive 38-25 run line record on the road and a 50-25 run line record as underdogs, including a notable 30-16 run line as road underdogs. Conversely, the Rangers stand at 28-35 on the run line at home and 24-42 as betting favorites, including a 17-27 run line as home favorites.
The Pirates are likely to remain competitive, particularly if Heaney pitches. Pittsburgh has demonstrated stronger performance against left-handed pitchers, posting a .247 batting average, .314 on-base percentage, .401 slugging percentage, and .716 OPS compared to their results against right-handers (.230/.296/.361/.658). Additionally, they show better numbers in day games (.239/.311/.378/.689) compared to night games (.230/.291/.366/.658).
With Texas needing early runs and standout performances from key players like Seager to secure a win, their lineup has not met expectations during the second half of the season (.233/.296/.382/.678). If their star players fail to deliver, it may be wise to reconsider betting on the Rangers to win or cover the run line.
Given the current statistics and betting trends, wagering on the Pirates’ run line appears to be a promising strategy for Wednesday’s series finale against Texas!
