Michael Wacha (4-2, 2.69) takes the ball for the Royals against Jack Leiter (2-4, 4.75) at 1:35 PM CT in the series finale at Globe Life Field. Wacha, who pitched college ball at Texas A&M, has been Kansas City's most reliable arm — he went 7 innings of 2-run ball against the Yankees in his last start. Leiter scraped together a 6-inning win over Houston on Monday despite walking 3.
The Royals desperately need this game. They've been outscored 41-11 over their last 5, including a 1-9 thumping Friday and a brutal Saturday loss where Ezequiel Duran's RBI single capped a 3-run Rangers 9th for a 7-6 walk-off. That's the kind of loss that lingers, and now they have to face it 16 hours later in a day game.
The injury report is doing the Royals no favors. Maikel Garcia exited Saturday's game with an apparent hamstring issue, which would gut a lineup already missing Jonathan India for the year. Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic, Carlos Estevez, Matt Strahm and Nick Mears are all on the IL — that's a rotation arm, two rotation arms, and three of their better relievers. Texas isn't fully healthy either, with Corey Seager (back), Wyatt Langford (forearm) and Josh Smith (illness) all on the shelf and Evan Carter getting precautionary foot X-rays Saturday.
- 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-DayEvan Carter CF — Carter, who isn't starting Saturday versus the Royals, is getting "precautionary" X-rays on his left foot, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News 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-ILCorey Seager SS — Seager (back) fielded groundballs and participated in live batting practice Saturday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com 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-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.
The market sees this one tight: Rangers -122 on the moneyline, total at 7.5. The spread bets are loud on Texas -1.5 (86% of bets, 83% of handle), which makes sense given how the Royals have looked, but Wacha is the kind of edge-of-the-rotation matchup nightmare that can quiet a hot lineup for 6 or 7 innings. If Kansas City is going to steal one in this series, this is the start to do it behind.
The path for the Royals is simple and not easy: Wacha gives them length, somebody not named the back end of the bullpen holds a late lead, and the bats wake up against a Leiter who's still walking too many guys. Miss any of those and it's a sweep, a 6-game losing streak, and a long flight home to start June staring up at almost everybody.