The Rangers starting rotation owns the lowest ERA in the American League. The group is about to get even stronger with the return of Yu Darvish. After 21 months of rehab following Tommy John surgery, Darvish will take the bump to face the Pirates.
You can bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
ODDS ANALYSIS
After winning for the fifth time in six games with Wednesday’s 15-9 hammering of the Angels, the Rangers enjoyed a day off Thursday before welcoming the Pirates to Arlington for this interleague series. During their stretch, the Rangers are winning – and lost – with quality pitching and scraped enough offense together to get a pair of 2-1 victories.
Texas continues to keep the pressure on Seattle for first-place in the NL West, but will get a stiff test from the Pirates, who are enjoying a successful run of their own. Following Wednesday’s 5-4 comeback win over Arizona, the Bucs are 8-2 in their last 10 going up 5.39 units on the moneyline in that span.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Juan Nicasio (4-3, 4.46 ERA) threw one inning in the Pirates’ postponed game Sunday, then had his turn skipped when they made up the game on Monday. It gives the struggling righty some extended time off after he recorded a 6.46 ERA in three May starts. Nicasio was good in April, going 3-2 with a 3.33 ERA in five outings.
The Bucs are monitoring Nicasio’s workload as he transitions from a relief role back into the rotation. A career National Leaguer, Nicasio has faced the Rangers just once, logging five innings and getting a win on May 6, 2014 while a member of the Colorado Rockies. He’s never thrown a big league pitch inside Globe Life Park.
Yu Darvish (0-0, NA) will be making his first start since Aug. 8, 2014 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Mar. 17, 2015. He tossed 87 pitches over six scoreless innings in his final rehab start Sunday with Double-A Frisco. He had a 0.90 ERA covering 20 innings through five rehab starts between Triple-A Round Rock and Frisco.
The Rangers said Darvish will be capped at around 85-90 pitches in his debut. If all goes well, he should get around 22 starts through the end of the season and likely won’t surpass 150 innings. He joins a starting rotation that leads the AL with a 3.29 ERA, so there probably won’t be a lot of pressure on him to perform right away.
LIVE BETTING
After their 12-1 win over Arizona on Tuesday, the Pirates could trace almost half their runs back to right fielder Gregory Polanco. Finding a rhythm in the first inning, Polanco went 3 for 5 with a career-high five RBIs to pace the Bucs’ 17-hit attack. He followed that outing with his second straight three-hit game, and fourth in his last 10, with a double and two singles in Wednesday’s 5-4 victory over the D-backs.
Polanco has gone 20 for 47 for a .425 average in the Pirates last 12 games and his 33 runs scored are tied for first in National League. After batting third for most of his minor league career, Polanco was moved to the three-hole on May 6 and has thrived in that role. As the Bucs No. 3 hitter, Polanco is hitting .343 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 16 games.
QUICK PICK
A couple of teams on a roll square off and the Rangers have to be excited about getting Darvish back in the rotation. He’ll make his first major league start in 21 months after the grueling rehabilitation process associated with Tommy John surgery. Darvish looked and pitched superb in a handful of minor league rehab starts and he can make a good rotation even better if he returns to form.
But there are always issues facing big league hitters after such a lengthy absence. Darvish could take the hill and be lights out, but that’s not likely, especially the way the Bucs are swinging the lumber. Right now the Rangers would be happy to take an outing with no complications. A win would be icing, but it’s not going to happen.
MLB Odds: Pittsburgh 6, Texas 4
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem, BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The ballgame between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers will take place Saturday, May 28, 2016, at 7:15 p.m. ET at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The matchup will be televised regionally on FOX.
