Astros vs Rangers Picks and Prediction – 5/17/2025

Houston visits Texas in an AL West clash as the Astros (22-20) face the Rangers (23-21) on Friday night at Globe Life Field. First pitch is at 6:05 PM EST, and the game will be streamed on Apple TV+. Houston edged out Kansas City 4-3 in its last outing, while the Rangers swept Colorado with an 8-3 win. Lance McCullers Jr. (0-1, 15.75 ERA) takes the mound for the Astros against Texas ace Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 1.78 ERA). Elevate your MLB game with our top-notch MLB picks.

Houston is 7-11 on the road and has won three of its last four, including back-to-back wins over the Royals. However, McCullers Jr. struggled badly in his first outing, allowing six hits and four runs in just four innings. The Astros’ offense has been steady, ranking 10th in the league in batting average (.251) and led by Jeremy Peña, who’s hitting .315 with 23 RBIs and six home runs. Yordan Alvarez and Pedro Leon are both on the IL, and that could hurt the middle of the lineup.

Defensively, Houston has been solid with a 3.46 team ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. The bullpen is holding opponents to a .216 average. While the Astros have been decent overall on the mound, McCullers’ rust and command issues (six walks in four innings) are a concern heading into this matchup. They’ve allowed 131 walks and racked up 390 strikeouts, so the ability is there, but control could be the difference-maker.

Texas is red-hot after sweeping Colorado and has won five straight, including two blowout wins over Detroit. The offense is clicking with 46 home runs on the season and a well-balanced attack led by Wyatt Langford (8 HR) and Adolis García (24 RBIs). Texas has also been excellent at home with a 15-8 record and enters this one with momentum.

Defensively, the Rangers hold a 3.28 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, slightly better than Houston. Opponents are hitting just .226 against them. Eovaldi has been dominant, giving up just 37 hits in 55.2 innings with a 0.75 WHIP and 60 strikeouts. He’s the better arm in this matchup and gives Texas a strong edge in the pitching department. Chris Martin and Luke Jackson are day-to-day, but the bullpen has depth to manage.

Texas is at home with the hotter bats, a better recent stretch, and the far superior pitcher on the hill. Eovaldi’s 1.78 ERA and 0.75 WHIP stand in stark contrast to McCullers’ early-season struggles. Houston’s lineup loses power without Alvarez, and unless Peña carries the offense, it’ll be tough to keep up with Texas’ firepower. Final Score Prediction: Texas Rangers win 6-3.