Texas Rangers vs
Kansas City RoyalsPredictions & Preview

Kansas City Royals Favored in Matchup Against Texas Rangers at Kauffman Stadium

The Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals are scheduled to play their second game of a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday night. Both teams will be looking to secure a win in this matchup.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Rangers +105 | Royals -125
• Spread: Rangers +1.5 (-200) | Royals -1.5 (+170)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Kansas City will win straight-up is 56%.

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers are currently in the middle of the AL West standings and are still in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. They have struggled offensively this season, ranking near the bottom in runs per game, batting average, and OPS. However, they have shown strength in stolen bases. On the pitching side, the Rangers have excelled, leading MLB in ERA and WHIP, with the fewest errors in baseball. Merrill Kelly will start Tuesday's game, with a good track record against the struggling Royals' lineup.

Kansas City Royals

Kansas City enters the series with Texas holding a slightly better record at 63-61. They are currently third in the AL Central but are within reach of a wild card spot. The Royals' offense has struggled, averaging 3.80 runs per game and ranking 27th in the league. Their .246 team batting average is in the middle of the pack, but they rank 28th in home runs with 113. However, they have shown strength in stealing bases, with 97 stolen bases ranking 13th in the league.

Kansas City's pitching staff has been a bright spot, sitting fourth in MLB with a 3.60 ERA. The bullpen and defense have been solid, ranking 11th in WHIP and seventh in fewest errors. Seth Lugo will be on the mound for the Royals on Tuesday, with a steady performance throughout the year. At Kauffman Stadium, he has gone 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA. Additionally, current Rangers hitters have struggled against Lugo, with a collective batting average of just .071 (3-for-42) against him.

Kansas City Royals Favored in Matchup Against Texas Rangers at Kauffman Stadium

In the upcoming matchup, Kansas City appears to have a slight advantage over Texas. The Royals previously swept Texas and will be playing at their home stadium, Kauffman Stadium, where they have performed well. Additionally, Seth Lugo has a history of pitching effectively against the Rangers, who struggle to hit against him with a combined .071 batting average. On the other hand, although Merrill Kelly has been consistent, he has yet to secure a win with the Rangers, who have struggled offensively throughout the season. Given the competitive nature of both teams and the Royals' previous successes against Texas this season, along with Lugo's presence on the mound, I am inclined to favor the Royals in this matchup as they continue to contend for a postseason spot.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]