The Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates will face off in the series finale on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at PNC Park in a matchup that brings together two teams trending in very different directions. The Astros, sitting at 32–27, are in the thick of the AL West race and looking to build momentum following a tightly contested 1–0 win earlier in the series, while the Pirates, now 22–38, continue to seek answers in a rebuilding year that has seen flashes of competitiveness but limited consistency. Houston will likely hand the ball to Lance McCullers Jr., who is working his way back into form and still regaining rhythm and velocity after an injury-marred stretch. He’ll be tasked with managing a Pirates lineup that lacks power but makes contact and plays aggressively on the basepaths. Offensively, Houston will turn to the core of José Altuve, Jeremy Peña, Yordan Álvarez, and Christian Walker to provide offensive production. Álvarez continues to be a threat in the middle of the order with his ability to drive the ball to all fields, while Walker has emerged as a clutch hitter in late-game situations. Pittsburgh will counter with Mitch Keller, a right-hander with frontline stuff but ongoing issues with consistency and command, especially in tight innings when he’s forced to pitch from the stretch.

The Pirates’ bullpen has been overextended recently, making Keller’s ability to provide at least six innings critical if they want to compete in the later frames. The total for this game is set at 9 runs, which might appear high given the 1–0 result earlier in the week, but reflects the volatility in both starting pitchers and the possibility of explosive late-inning rallies. While both teams have been effective at covering the spread in specific roles—Houston as an underdog and Pittsburgh when slightly favored—the real differentiator in this game will be execution with runners in scoring position and the ability to limit mistakes, especially defensively and in the bullpen. For the Astros, a clean early start from McCullers combined with smart baserunning and situational hitting could give them a decisive edge. For Pittsburgh, it’s about staying disciplined at the plate, getting something from the middle of the order, and having the bullpen hold the line if the game is close entering the seventh. Ultimately, the final game of this series offers Houston an opportunity to cap off a strong road stretch and maintain pace in a crowded division, while Pittsburgh will try to avoid another series loss and take something positive into the next leg of their schedule. Given each team’s recent tendencies and matchups on the mound, this game could turn on a single big inning or a bullpen miscue—making it one to watch from first pitch through the final out.