Texas Rangers vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction 05-22-2023 MLB Picks

The Texas Rangers and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet in MLB action from PNC Park on Monday. Let’s dive into the odds, starting pitching matchup, history and make a prediction for this game.

Odds

Texas is listed as a -135 road favorite while Pittsburgh is a +115 home underdog. The total for this game is set at 8.5 runs.

Starting Pitching Matchup

Dane Dunning will start for Texas and is 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 23 strikeouts this season. Luis Ortiz will start for Pittsburgh and is 0-2 with a 5.63 ERA and 4 strikeouts this season.

Matchup History

Texas’ 9-6 win over Pittsburgh back on May 8, 2019, was the last time these two squared off and it snapped Pittsburgh’s three-game head-to-head win streak in this matchup.

Trends

Texas is 4-1 in their last 5 games overall and 4-1 in their last 5 road games while the over is 6-0-1 in their last 7 games overall. Pittsburgh is 4-14 in their last 18 games overall and 1-4 in their last 5 home games while the over is 22-8-1 in their last 31 games against the AL West.

Pick

I’m backing the Rangers here. I’m just not a Luis Ortiz fan, and I haven’t really liked what I’ve seen from him to this point so far. On the other side, Dane Dunning has looked really good since reclaiming a spot in the Rangers’ rotation and I just feel like he’s the better option here with the better hitting team behind him at the plate. Give me the Rangers here.