Kansas City Royals vs
Texas RangersPredictions & Preview

Max Scherzer's Season Debut Sets up Texas Rangers for Victory Against Struggling Royals

The Kansas City Royals are set to face the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in an American League matchup. The Rangers secured a 6-0 victory at home in their last meeting. Alec Marsh, with an ERA of 4.37, will be starting for the Royals, while Max Scherzer, who has yet to allow a run this season, will take the mound for the Rangers. Texas is the current favorite with odds opening at -150 and now at -156.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Royals +141 | Rangers -156
• Spread: Royals +1.5 (-150) | Rangers -1.5 (+131)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Texas will win straight-up is 61%.

Kansas City vs Texas Stats

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals have been performing well in the AL Central standings, currently in second place and trailing by 8.0 games in the division. They also hold the final spot in the AL Wild Card race. Offensively, the team has a .246/.308/.400 slash line and averages 4.64 runs per game. However, they have struggled with drawing walks, ranking 21st in the league in this category. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been a standout player with a .899 OPS, 12 home runs, 53 RBI, 60 runs scored, and 21 steals. Young righty Alec Marsh has a 5-4 record with a 4.37 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 70.0 innings pitched, but has given up nine home runs. Despite some challenges, the team's overall performance has been solid with a power ranking of 25, ranking 9th in offense, 10th in defense, and holding a 42-36 record for the season.

Texas Rangers Analysis

The Texas Rangers have shown decent performance this season, currently third in the AL West but trailing in both the division and the AL Wild Card by 7.5 and 5.0 games, respectively. Their offense has struggled, ranking 21st in the league with a .678 team OPS and scoring an average of 4.28 runs per game. They have hit a total of 74 home runs, tying for 20th in the majors with the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs. Third baseman Josh Smith has been a standout performer at the plate with impressive stats. The team will look to improve offensively to become more competitive. Pitcher Max Scherzer is set to make his 2024 debut after back surgery, showing mixed results in his rehab games. It remains to be seen how he will perform in his first MLB start since the 2023 World Series. The Rangers currently have a power ranking of 23 and rank 17th in offense, scoring an average of 4.25 runs per game. Their defense ranks 16th, giving up an average of 4.41 runs per game. Overall, the team has a record of 36-40 and recently faced a 3-0 loss to Kansas City in their last three matchups.

Max Scherzer's Season Debut Sets up Texas Rangers for Victory Against Struggling Royals

In tonight's game, Max Scherzer will make his first appearance of the season, contrasting with Alec Marsh's recent struggles, boasting a 1-2 record with a 7.20 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in his four June starts. Both teams have had difficulty scoring in the past few weeks, with the Royals averaging 3.29 runs in their last 14 games and the Rangers averaging 3.69 runs in their previous 13 games. Based on these factors, it is recommended to bet on the Texas Rangers to secure a victory in this matchup.

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