San Francisco Giants vs Texas Rangers Picks and Predictions April 27th 2025

Touched by Gesture, Jake Burger Looks to Lead Rangers Past Giants

Jake Burger’s visit to San Francisco this weekend has been special for more reasons than baseball. As the Texas Rangers aim for a series win over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon, Burger continues to carry the momentum of a heartfelt honor — and a hot bat — into the series finale.

Burger Honored in Special Ceremony

Before the series opener Friday, the Giants presented Burger with their inaugural Giants Heart of the Game Award, recognizing his work with children with special needs. Burger and his wife, Ashlyn, recently created the Burger Family Foundation in honor of their 6-month-old daughter, Penelope, who was born with Down syndrome.

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“For me, this is the first time I can pick a number that’s not just close to my heart, but close to a lot of people’s hearts,” Burger said. “I’m just really proud of this number and really excited to wear this and represent not only my daughter, but also so many people out there.”

Burger’s heartfelt gesture of changing his jersey number to 21 — symbolizing Trisomy 21, the cause of Down syndrome — has made him an inspiring figure both on and off the field.

The Giants’ decision to recognize a visiting player was deeply moving for Burger.

“It’s really incredible that a different organization is going to give me an award for what we’re doing with our foundation,” he said.

Burger Producing at the Plate

Burger hasn’t just made an impact with his story; he’s delivering on the field, too. He doubled and scored in the Rangers’ 2-0 win on Friday, then drove in both of Texas’ runs with sacrifice flies in a tough 3-2 loss Saturday.

Now, Burger and the Rangers will try to clinch the series against San Francisco on Sunday. Burger will face Giants starter Jordan Hicks (1-3, 6.59 ERA), against whom he has only one previous career at-bat — a strikeout.

If you’re tracking MLB picks for Sunday’s clash, Burger’s momentum and the Rangers’ lineup depth make them a team to watch. Dive into the latest expert analysis with updated MLB picks for this key interleague matchup.

Pitching Matchup: Leiter vs. Hicks

Texas will send Jack Leiter (2-0, 0.90 ERA) to the mound. The second-year pitcher has been lights-out so far this season and will be making his first career appearance against the Giants.

Meanwhile, Hicks will attempt to steady a shaky start to his season for San Francisco. While he’s had success out of the bullpen in past years, Hicks has struggled since moving into the Giants’ starting rotation.

Giants Look to Build Momentum

The Giants rallied from a 2-0 deficit on Saturday, capped by Patrick Bailey’s walk-off single in the ninth. Willy Adames, seen as the club’s heir apparent to longtime shortstop Brandon Crawford, delivered San Francisco’s first two runs with key at-bats.

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Former Giants legend Crawford, watching his old team closely, praised the organization’s new energy under Buster Posey’s leadership in the front office.

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“There seems to be a new energy with Buster leading the way,” Crawford said. “It’s been fun to watch. I’d love to see them keep it rolling.”

What’s at Stake

Both teams have much to play for on Sunday — Texas aiming to continue their strong interleague form and San Francisco looking to keep riding the wave of their dramatic Saturday comeback. With Burger leading the way emotionally and offensively, and Leiter providing stability on the mound, the stage is set for a compelling finale.