Pirates vs Rangers Preview: Skenes Faces deGrom in Friday Showdown

The Pittsburgh Pirates are heading back to Texas on Friday to face the Rangers at Globe Life Field. Pittsburgh just beat Texas 8-4 in their last matchup, thanks to dominant pitching. Paul Skenes, the Pirates' superstar pitcher, led that impressive victory. Now Bubba Chandler takes the mound for Pittsburgh, while Jacob deGrom starts for the Rangers. Both teams sit close in the standings with nearly identical records. The Pirates bring momentum from their recent win, although the Rangers will be ready for payback. This matchup promises exciting baseball with strong pitching on both sides.

Pittsburgh's Oneil Cruz is a physical force on the field. Standing 6-foot-7, he combines rare size with incredible athleticism, allowing him to hit power and steal bases. Cruz has posted multiple 20-home-run seasons while ranking among league leaders in stolen bases. For Texas, Wyatt Langford represents the future of the franchise. Selected fourth overall in the 2023 draft, Langford hit 22 home runs and drove in 62 runs last season. He also stole 22 bases, showing he can impact games through power and speed. Both players bring dynamic energy to this rivalry matchup.

The Pirates depend on Paul Skenes as their clear superstar pitcher. Veteran Mitch Keller provides stable support as a reliable top-rotation arm. However, Pittsburgh's bullpen remains less established, with Dennis Santana taking over as closer. The Rangers face different challenges with injuries affecting their relief pitchers. Robert Garcia, their closer, is sidelined with inflammation. Chris Martin and Luis Curvelo are also unavailable due to injuries. Jack Leiter deals with soreness and is day-to-day. These injuries force Texas to rely more heavily on veteran starters like deGrom and Eovaldi to carry the team forward.