Texas Rangers @ Pittsburgh Pirates - June 22, 2025

As I gear up for today’s interleague clash between the Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, I can’t help but feel the familiar rush that comes with placing my bets. There’s something about these two teams battling it out that has me on edge. Both squads are eager to turn their fortunes around after recent struggles, making this a prime opportunity for savvy bettors like myself.

Let’s start by examining the pitching match-up. The Rangers will send Jack Leiter to the mound, who has been a mixed bag this season with a 4-4 record and a 3.3 ERA. He brings an impressive strikeout rate of 7.8 K/9 innings, but let’s not overlook his inconsistent performances lately; he’s given up hard contact that could put him in jeopardy against an opportunistic offense.

On the other side, we’ve got Bailey Falter for the Pirates. With a 5-3 record and a decent 3.9 ERA, he’s shown flashes of brilliance—especially given his ability to limit opposing hitters as evidenced by his strikeouts per nine innings hovering around 7.4. While both pitchers have their strengths, Falter seems to be in better form right now.

Now let’s talk about offensive production. The Rangers average just over 3.6 runs per game and have slightly higher slugging numbers compared to Pittsburgh, which is averaging only about 3.2 runs per game this season with nothing stellar in terms of batting average or on-base percentage at .221 each.

However—and here’s where things get interesting—the Pirates’ last few games have seen them scoring more consistently despite their overall struggles this season. They’ve gone OVER in four of their last five contests—perhaps they’re finding their rhythm? Meanwhile, those pesky UNDER bettors are creeping in again because Texas has also seen four unders in its last six games.

So what’s my gut telling me today? I’ve seen enough baseball to know that when you combine two struggling offenses with pitchers who can either shine or falter (pun intended), anything can happen! Honestly, I wouldn’t bet against Pittsburgh pulling off an upset here; they’re hungry for a win after dropping close contests recently—including that tight one just days ago against Texas.

My instincts are leaning toward taking the Pirates as underdogs today—there’s just something about home-field advantage mixed with desperation that makes me think today could be their day to flip the script against these Rangers who haven’t exactly been covering themselves in glory lately.

Given all factors considered—the pitching matchup with Falter holding steady and maybe even getting some run support from his team—I believe we’ll see an OVER outcome as well today too!

So there you have it: I’m rolling with the Pirates to snag victory while riding high on an OVER total score as they push past what’s been shaping up as another challenging series! Remember folks, trust your instincts but always manage your bankroll wisely—we’re here for long-term success!