Rangers vs Astros Prediction 5/18/25 MLB Picks Today

The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers meet Sunday in MLB action at Globe Life Field. Here’s a Rangers vs Astros Prediction. This article will include a Rangers vs Astros Pick.

Houston Astros Betting Preview

The Houston Astros are 23-22 on the year and play the Rays, Mariners, and Athletics next. The Houston Astros are batting .247 on the season, have a .319 OBP, and a .372 slugging percentage. The Houston Astros’ pitching staff has a 3.40 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Jeremy Pena leads the Houston Astros with 52 hits and 23 RBI, while Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve have combined for 84 hits and 35 RBI.

Framber Valdez gets the ball for the Houston Astros, and he is 2-4 with a 3.54 ERA and 51 strikeouts this season. Valdez is 8-5 with a 2.83 ERA and 94 strikeouts in his career against the Texas Rangers.

Texas Rangers Betting Preview

The Texas Rangers are 25-22 on the year and play the Yankees, White Sox, and Blue Jays next. The Texas Rangers are batting .228 on the season, have a .290 OBP, and a .371 slugging percentage. The Texas Rangers’ pitching staff has a 3.22 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Josh Smith leads the Texas Rangers with 39 hits and 11 RBI, while Josh Jung and Adolis Garcia have combined for 75 hits and 42 RBI.

Jack Leiter gets the ball for the Texas Rangers, and he is 3-2 with a 4.34 ERA and 23 strikeouts this season. This will be Leiter’s first career game against the Houston Astros.

Why the Texas Rangers will win

• The Rangers have won seven of their last eight games.
• The Astros have lost four of their last five day games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Rangers have covered the run line in each of their last five day games against AL West opponents following a win.
• The Astros have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five day games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Astros have trailed after 5 innings in seven of their last nine games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Rangers have led after 3 innings in four of their last five day games against opponents that held a winning record.

Why the Houston Astros will win

• The Astros have won each of their last seven day games following a loss.
• The Rangers have lost eight of their last 10 home games against the Astros following a home win.
• The Astros have covered the run line in each of their last nine day games against American League opponents following a road loss.
• The Rangers have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four home games against the Astros following a win.
• The Astros have led after 5 innings in each of their last eight day games against AL West opponents.
• The Astros have led after 3 innings in each of their last eight day games against AL West opponents.

Texas Rangers Player Prop Facts

• Corey Seager has recorded at least one Single in each of his last eight appearances against AL West opponents.
• Corey Seager has scored at least one run in each of his last seven appearances against AL opponents.
• Corey Seager has hit a home run in two of his last three home appearances against the Astros.
• Corey Seager has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances against AL opponents.
• Corey Seager has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last five appearances in day games against AL teams that held a winning record.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Framber Valdez has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last five road appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Framber Valdez has recorded a win in each of his last seven Sunday appearances in day games.
• Jeremy Pena has recorded at least one Single in eight of the Astros’ last nine day games.
• Yordan Alvarez has scored at least one run in each of his last six road appearances against AL 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 hit in 14 of his last 15 appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last six road appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.

Rangers vs Astros Prediction

You can make a case for the Rangers as they’re having a hot week, but Leiter just isn’t a pitcher I’m excited to back as he has a 6.82 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 12 career MLB starts. In his last 15.2 innings, Leiter has allowed 13 hits and 11 runs, while walking nine and striking out ten. Valdez is far and away the more trustworthy pitcher, and that includes allowing just six runs in his last 20 innings while averaging a strikeout per frame. Valdez is also holding current Rangers to a .199 batting average with 46 strikeouts in 161 at-bats. Give me the Astros on Sunday afternoon against the Rangers.