It wasn't all that long ago that the Pirates and Rangers were jockeying to be the worst team in baseball. Now, with the 2023 season nearly one third complete, both teams will square off in a series that proves to be critical for both clubs.
The Pirates and Rangers both finished the 2020 campaign with the two worst records in the truncated season, positioning for the top two picks, respectively, in the subsequent draft. The following year, neither club found any kind of improvement as both finished with 100-loss seasons, earning top five picks in the following draft.