First pitch is 3:05 PM CT at Globe Life Field, with Seth Lugo (2-4, 3.74) drawing Kumar Rocker (2-5, 3.96). Lugo is the steadier arm on paper — 6.1 innings of 3-run ball against Seattle his last time out — while Rocker is coming off a 5-inning, 4-earned outing against Houston that ended in a loss.
The market sees this as a close one despite the records. The Rangers are -116 on the moneyline at Pinnacle with the run line sitting at -1.5, and the total is parked at 7.5. Translation: the books like Texas, but not by much, and they expect Lugo to keep this from turning into another laugher.
Kansas City is 22-35 and has lost 4 in a row, including a brutal 1-15 and 0-7 stretch against the Yankees before Friday's 9-1 beatdown in Texas. The offense has scored a total of 5 runs in those 4 losses. At some point the bats have to show up — Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez are too good for this to keep going — but right now everything Kansas City throws into the lineup is getting eaten alive.
The Rangers aren't exactly cooking either at 26-31, but they've ridden the home cooking. Friday's 9-1 win included a 3-homer night and 6.1 shutout innings from MacKenzie Gore, per the recap out of KC. The lineup is still without Wyatt Langford (forearm, headed to Triple-A Round Rock for a rehab assignment) and Corey Seager (back, expected to take live BP this weekend), so this version of Texas is still very much a placeholder for what the front office thought they'd be running out.
- 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-ILJonathan India 2B — The Royals announced Tuesday that India underwent season-ending surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder.
- 15-Day-ILNick Mears RP — Mears (2-3) was tagged with the loss in relief Friday against the Mariners after allowing two runs on one hit and one walk over one inning.
- 15-Day-ILMatt Strahm RP — Strahm (knee) threw live batting practice Wednesday and is slated to throw a bullpen session Friday, putting him on track to be activated from the injured list when eligible Sunday, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILKris Bubic SP — Bubic (elbow) is still dealing with general left arm fatigue, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILCarlos Estevez RP — Estevez (shoulder) began playing catch Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
- 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-ILWyatt Langford LF — Langford (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILCorey Seager SS — Seager (back) is expected to take live batting practice Saturday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- 10-Day-ILJosh Smith 2B — Smith (illness) rejoined his teammates at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILCole Winn RP — Winn (0-1) took the loss against Pittsburgh on Wednesday, allowing three runs on two hits while striking out one over one-third of an inning.
- 15-Day-ILRobert Garcia RP — Garcia (shoulder) began throwing from 80 feet out Friday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILCarter Baumler RP — Baumler (intercostal) has been shut down from his rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILCody Bradford SP — Bradford (elbow) began throwing from 60 feet during the Rangers' most recent homestand, MLB.com reports
The Royals' bigger problem is the pitching staff behind Lugo. Cole Ragans was shut down again after a rough rehab outing, Kris Bubic is still dealing with arm fatigue, and the bullpen lost Nick Mears to the IL on Friday on top of Carlos Estevez and Matt Strahm. Lugo basically has to go 7 today or this gets ugly in the middle innings — again.
Best bet for Kansas City fans is that the offense remembers what it's doing and Lugo locks in. Best bet for the Rangers is that Rocker keeps the ball in the yard against a Royals lineup that hasn't sniffed double-digit hits in a week. Lean Texas, but the under at 7.5 might be the cleaner number if you trust either of these starters more than the bullpens behind them.