Kumar Rocker (2-5, 3.54) gets the ball for Texas opposite Michael Wacha (4-4, 3.44) for a 1:10 PM CT first pitch at The K. Two righties, two ERAs that start with a 3 — on paper this is the cleanest pitching matchup of the series.
The Rangers are limping into this one in spirit only. They came back from 4-0 down on Tuesday to take Game 2 6-4, and Joc Pederson — listed day-to-day — went 1-for-5 with a homer in the win. Texas is 33-34 and still trying to claw to .500, but they're 3-1-1 in their last 5 games scored and the offense has shown a pulse again.
Kansas City sits at 28-40 and the rotation is the reason. Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic are both still on the 15-day IL working their way back, Bubic's first rehab outing at Triple-A Omaha was a 6-run mess in 1.1 innings, and Seth Lugo got tagged for 5 in his last start. That's a lot to ask of Wacha, who himself got beat up his last time out — 4 ER on 8 hits to Minnesota in 5.2 innings.
- Day-To-DayJoc Pederson DH — Pederson went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Royals.
- Day-To-DaySebastian Walcott SS — Rangers GM Ross Fenstermaker said Tuesday that Walcott could be ready for game action in August, "if all things according to plan" in his rehab from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his right elbow, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- 10-Day-ILJosh Smith 2B — Smith (glute/wrist/illness) began a rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco on Saturday.
- 10-Day-ILDanny Jansen C — Jansen is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Guardians on Friday.
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin RP — The Rangers placed Martin on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right shoulder impingement.
- 60-Day-ILJordan Montgomery SP — Montgomery (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILRobert Garcia RP — The Rangers transferred Garcia (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
- 60-Day-ILCarter Baumler RP — Baumler (intercostal) has been shut down from his rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DaySeth Lugo SP — Lugo did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Twins, allowing five runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings.
- Day-To-DayAnthony Simonelli SP — no
- Day-To-DayJavier Vaz 2B — Vaz (fingers) has produced a .238/.304/.262 slash line with zero home runs and three stolen bases in 10 games since being activated from Double-A Northwest Arkansas' 7-day injured list April 22.
- Day-To-DayTyson Guerrero RP — no
- 10-Day-ILKyle Isbel CF — Isbel (foot) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
- 15-Day-ILNick Mears RP — Mears (shoulder) began a throwing progression this week and could progress to a bullpen by the end of the week, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILKris Bubic SP — Bubic (elbow) yielded six runs (five earned) on eight hits and one walk over 1.1 innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
- 15-Day-ILCole Ragans SP — Ragans (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The bullpens are the wild card. Texas is missing Chris Martin and Robert Garcia from the back end, and KC is down Carlos Estevez and Nick Mears. Whichever starter gets pulled first is handing the ball to a unit that's already taped together — and on a getaway day, with both managers presumably wanting fresh arms for the next series, the leash on Rocker and Wacha won't be especially long.
The market's quietly closing the door on this being a slugfest — the total opened around 10.5 with the Under juiced at -121 and has since drifted to Over +111 / Under -123. That's money landing on the Under. With two starters who can miss bats and bullpens nobody trusts, the read makes sense.