Rangers vs Astros Prediction 5/16/25 MLB Picks Today

The Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers meet Friday in MLB action from Globe Life Field. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Rangers vs Astros Prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Houston Astros will send out Lance McCullers Jr. for the start here, and McCullers Jr. is 0-1 with a 15.75 ERA and 4 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against Texas, McCullers Jr. is 0-0 with a 1.37 ERA and 32 strikeouts. The Texas Rangers will start Nathan Eovaldi here, and Eovaldi is 4-2 with a 1.78 ERA and 60 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against Houston, Eovaldi is 2-2 with a 3.25 ERA and 22 strikeouts.

Houston Astros Recap

The Houston Astros come into this game looking to rebound after starting the series with a 1-0 loss at the hands of the Rangers to fall to 22-21 on the year. After this series, the Astros will head on the road for a series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Astros Lose Back-To-Back Series Openers

Jose Altuve has 41 hits, including 4 home runs and 14 RBIs. Jeremy Pena also has 52 hits with 6 homers and 23 RBIs with 6 stolen bases, while Yordan Alvarez has 4 doubles and 18 RBIs with 21 strikeouts as well. Jake Meyers has 7 doubles as well, and Christian Walker has also accrued a team-high 51 strikeouts so far this season. Altuve also has 3 stolen bases, while Jake Meyers has a team-high 7 stolen bases this season. Isaac Paredes also has a team-high 6 home runs with 19 RBIs of his own, and Cam Smith has contributed 3 homers and 11 RBIs.

Why the Houston Astros will win

• The Astros have won each of their last five games as road underdogs against American League opponents following a loss.
• The Rangers have lost seven of their last eight Friday games as favorites against AL West opponents.
• The Astros have covered the run line in each of their last 11 games as underdogs against American League opponents following a loss.
• The Rangers have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games as favorites against the Astros following a win.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Lance McCullers Jr. has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances in night games against AL West teams that held a winning record.
• Lance McCullers Jr. has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last eight appearances against AL West opponents.
• Jeremy Pena has recorded at least one Single in each of the Astros’ last 13 games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Jeremy Pena has recorded at least one hit in each of the Astros’ last 16 games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Yordan Alvarez has hit a home run in four of his last five road appearances against the Rangers.
• Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last six road appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Yordan Alvarez has scored at least one run in each of his last six road appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Jeremy Pena ranks T8th in the league in Hits (52) this season.

Texas Rangers Recap

The Texas Rangers come into this game looking to build on their victory over the Astros to kick things off on Thursday, to improve to 24-21 on the year. After this series, the Rangers will head on the road for a series against the New York Yankees.

Rangers Win Six In A Row

Corey Seager has 30 hits, including 6 home runs and 12 RBIs, while Adolis Garcia has 36 hits with 10 doubles, 6 home runs, 24 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases. Josh Jung has 37 hits with 6 doubles, 6 home runs, and 17 RBIs, while Wyatt Langford has 33 hits with 6 doubles, 8 home runs, 18 RBIs, and 7 stolen bases, and Jonah Heim has 5 homers and 12 RBIs. Leody Taveras also has 6 stolen bases on the year.

Why the Texas Rangers will win

• The Rangers have won each of their last six games.
• The Astros have lost four of their last five road games.
• The Rangers have covered the run line in 10 of their last 12 night games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Astros have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five games against American League opponents.

Texas Rangers Player Prop Facts

• Nathan Eovaldi has recorded a win in each of his last three appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Nathan Eovaldi has recorded six or more strikeouts in 10 of his last 11 home appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Corey Seager has hit a home run in four of his last seven appearances in night games against AL West teams that held a winning record.
• Corey Seager has recorded at least one RBI in four of his last five appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Corey Seager has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances against AL opponents.
• Corey Seager has scored at least one run in each of his last seven appearances against AL opponents.
• Corey Seager has recorded at least one Single in each of his last eight appearances against AL West opponents.
• Nathan Eovaldi ranks 6th amongst qualified players for Earned Run Average (1.78) this season.

Total Runs Facts

• Thirteen of the Astros’ last 14 night games as underdogs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Five of the Rangers’ last six games as favorites against the Astros have gone UNDER the total runs line.

Rangers vs Astros Prediction

I’m on the Rangers here. I just can’t get on board with Houston with how they’ve had issues on the road and how Lance McCullers Jr. still doesn’t look right. It’s to be expected after such a long layoff, but the unfortunate thing is that life goes on, and it doesn’t wait for McCullers Jr. to get right. The Rangers have been finding ways to win, and Eovaldi has been outstanding in a lot of his recent starts. I think the Rangers get it done here. Give me the Rangers in this one.