Free Pick | Monday | MLB | Aug. 19

Nelly’s is 5-1 in the past five days of MLB selections – check out tonight’s TOTAL!

#914 Texas Rangers (Urena) -125 over Pittsburgh Pirates (Ortiz) 7:05 PM CT

With all the big names under contract for the Rangers, the defending World Series champions likely didn’t expect that Jose Urena would be taking regular turns in the rotation in August. Urena owns a career 42-77 record in decisions and while he is 3-8 this season his 4.15 ERA is his best since 2018. Urena doesn’t generate strikeouts often and while Boston’s offense has dominated him twice in August, his other outings in recent weeks have been quite good. Boston is one of the better offenses in baseball and the draw for Urena tonight will be much more favorable. Pittsburgh has a stronger record than Texas entering this series for a great surprise, but time is nearly extinguished for either of these teams to make a miraculous late season run back into the playoff race. Texas delivered a comeback win on Sunday to avoid a four-game home sweep against the Twins and the lineup has reached at least four runs six times in the past nine games. Pittsburgh is 2-8 in the past 10 games with three or fewer runs in five of the past eight contests. Luis Ortiz has a 3.41 ERA but a 4.17 FIP and has been on negative trajectory in August with a 6.61 ERA and an 8.43 FIP. Ortiz has only eight strikeouts while allowing six home runs in his last three starts. Texas has a 2.49 bullpen ERA with a 0.78 WHIP in the past five games and the Rangers still hold a winning home record for the season.

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