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) — no05/08
- 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 22.05/08
- Day-To-DayTyson Guerrero (RP) — no05/08
- 10-Day-ILJonathan India (2B) — The Royals announced Tuesday that India underwent season-ending surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder.05/08
- 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.05/29
- 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.05/28
- 15-Day-ILKris Bubic (SP) — Bubic (elbow) is still dealing with general left arm fatigue, MLB.com reports.05/28
- 15-Day-ILCarlos Estevez (RP) — Estevez (shoulder) began playing catch Wednesday, MLB.com reports.05/28
- 15-Day-ILCole Ragans (SP) — Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Monday that Ragans (elbow) will be shut down for 2-to-3 days after not bouncing back well from Saturday's rehab start with Triple-A Omaha, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.05/25
- OutMaikel Garcia (3B) — Garcia was removed from Saturday's game against the Rangers with an apparent hamstring injury, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.05/30
- 60-Day-ILJames McArthur (RP) — McArthur (elbow) underwent surgery Friday to help combat continued soreness and inflammation, MLB.com reports.05/25
- 60-Day-ILAlec Marsh (SP) — The Royals placed Marsh (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
- 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.05/30
- 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.04/07
- 10-Day-ILCorey Seager (SS) — Seager (back) fielded groundballs and participated in live batting practice Saturday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.05/30
- 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.05/30
- 10-Day-ILJosh Smith (2B) — Smith (illness) rejoined his teammates at Globe Life Field on Thursday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.05/29
- 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.05/24
- 15-Day-ILRobert Garcia (RP) — Garcia (shoulder) began throwing from 80 feet out Friday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.05/08
- OutDeclan Cronin (RP) — Cronin (elbow) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.05/08
- OutNabil Crismatt (SP) — Crismatt will undergo surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILCarter Baumler (RP) — Baumler (intercostal) has been shut down from his rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.05/23
- 60-Day-ILCody Bradford (SP) — Bradford (elbow) began throwing from 60 feet during the Rangers' most recent homestand, MLB.com reports05/10
- 60-Day-ILJordan Montgomery (SP) — Montgomery (elbow) will throw his fifth bullpen session Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.05/08
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.