Texas Rangers at Pittsburgh Pirates odds, picks and predictions

The Texas Rangers (29-18) and Pittsburgh Pirates (25-22) meet for game 2 of a 3-game series at PNC Park. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Pirates odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Pittsburgh leads 1-0

Texas had a 3-game win streak snapped with Monday’s 6-4 series-opening defeat. The Rangers are 7-3 over their last 10 road games.

The Pirates entered Monday with a .588 OPS since April 30 and had not scored 6-plus runs in a single game since a 16-run outburst on April 29. Pittsburgh is 5-13 in May following Monday’s victory.

Rangers vs. Pirates projected starters

RHP Nathan Eovaldi vs. LHP Rich Hill

Eovaldi (5-2, 2.83 ERA) makes his 10th start of the 2023 campaign. He has a 0.99 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 9.1 K/9 through 60 1/3 IP.

• Owns an 0.83 ERA over his last 4 starts
• Has a 3.14 ERA in road games since 2021

Hill (4-3, 3.80 ERA) makes his 10th start. He has notched a 1.35 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 through 47 1/3 IP.

• Owns a 2.35 ERA over his last 7 starts:
• Last start: Win, 6 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 7 K in 8-0 road win vs. Detroit Tigers Wednesday
• Owns a 3.91 ERA across his last 5 starts against Texas (2016-2022)

Rangers at Pirates odds

FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:43 a.m. ET.

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Rangers at Pirates picks and predictions

Prediction

Rangers 6, Pirates 3

It has been more than 3 weeks since the Rangers lost back-to-back games to sub-.500 teams. Texas is a strong lean in this one with Eovaldi on the mound — just not a value at this price. PASS.

Eovaldi has been barreled up just 4.3% of the time and has his ground-ball rate at 51.3%, the would-be highest mark since 2015.

The Rangers own an .811 OPS in May and an .841 OPS against southpaws on the season.

Consider a partial-unit play on TEXAS -1.5 (-102).

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There is some all-around fade-the-pitching lean here, but Texas is way overcooked on its offensive numbers. It will be difficult to find value in a Rangers Over for a while.

PASS.

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