Pittsburgh Pirates vs Texas Rangers Prediction 05-24-2023 MLB Picks

The Texas Rangers and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Wednesday in MLB action from PNC Park. This will be the finale in a three-game series. The Pirates took a two-run win in game one, then in the Tuesday matchup the Rangers evened it up with a five-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers gave up five runs in the seventh inning during the Monday opener of this series, eventually falling 6-4. On Tuesday Texas scored three runs in the sixth inning on the way to a 6-1 win. Nathan Eovaldi went the distance in the start with 9.0 innings, six hits, one earned, five Ks and one walk.

For the starter job in the finale it’ll be Texas’ Martin Perez. In his nine starts this year Perez is 5-1 with a 4.01 ERA and 38 Ks in 49.1innings. Over his career Perez is 80-78 with a 4.42 ERA in 262 games (232 starts).

Pittsburgh Pirates

Over on the Pittsburgh side, they out-hit the Rangers 11-7 in the Monday opener. On Tuesday the Pirates couldn’t get much going on six team hits. Pittsburgh’s Rich Hill gave up five on seven hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

Johan Oviedo will take the mound for the start on Wednesday for Pittsburgh. Over nine starts Oviedo is 3-3 with a 4.69 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 48.0 innings. He’s 7-14 with a 4.43 ERA over 49 career games (35 starts).

The Rangers are 5-1 in their last six in game three of a series and 11-5 in their last 16 overall. Texas is 16-36 in their last 52 Wednesday games.

Meanwhile, the Pirates are 8-2 in their last 10 versus a lefty starter and 46-95 in their last 141 in game three of a series. Pittsburgh is 26-59 in their last 85 interleague games.

ANDREW’S FREE PICK

I’ll take a stab on the Pirates in this one. Oviedo has had his ups and downs this season but he’s done well lately. Over his last pair Oviedo has 11.0 combined innings, two earned, six hits and eight walks. He should post a decent outing here as well. On Tuesday Pittsburgh couldn’t get past Eovaldi at the plate; just four batters had hits in the loss. Texas is going to have a well-rested bullpen in the finale, which will make things even harder on the Pirates. If Oviedo has a good start in this one I can see Pittsburgh being in contention, though.