The Kansas City Royals (42-35) travel to face off against the Texas Rangers (35-40) on Saturday, June 22nd. This game will be played at Globe Life Field in Arlington and televised on MLBN. The Rangers are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Royals are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Rangers. First pitch is set for 3:05 CT.
Royals vs Rangers
Thanks to a five-run 6th inning for the Rangers’ offense, they cruised to a 6-2 win over the Royals in the most recent game of this series. Heading into the game, the Rangers were favored at -148 on the money line.
Kansas City got on the board first with a run in the 3rd inning, and they scored their final run in the 5th. As for the Rangers, they didn’t get on the board until putting up five runs in the 6th, and they added their final run in the 7th.
Nathan Eovaldi pitched well for the Rangers in this one, going six innings and giving up just two earned runs on four hits. He finished the game with six strikeouts and picked up a win. Brady Singer had a rough outing for the Royals, taking the loss after going five innings and giving up two earned runs on three hits.
Kansas City is 42-35 overall, putting them 2nd in the AL Central, seven games behind the Guardians for the division lead. The Royals dropped the first game of their series vs. the Rangers and are 3-7 over their last 10 games. So far, they have gone 13-9 against other teams in the AL Central.
At home, the Royals have gone 25-14 this year, and they are just below .500 at 17-21 on the road. As the underdog, Kansas City is 22-24 this year, which includes having lost two straight as the underdog. The Royals are 20-11 when favored this year, and their overall series record is 11-12-1, and they have lost three straight series.
When betting the run line, the Royals have been a solid choice this season, going 44-33 overall. They have been even better at home, going 23-16 on the run line, compared to 21-17 on the road. As the underdog, they have been especially profitable, going 29-17 on the run line. Their average run margin this season is +0.7 runs per game.
The Kansas City Royals are on the road today against the Texas Rangers, and the over/under line for the game is set at 8.5 runs. The Royals have a combined run average of 8.7 runs per game this season, and their over/under record is 34-40. When the over/under line is set at 8.5 runs, they have an 8-15 record. So far this season, 22.1% of their games have had over/under lines set at 8.5 runs or higher.
Michael Wacha Gets The Start For The Royals
Right-hander Michael Wacha gets the start for the Royals today as he faces the Rangers on the road. Wacha has made 12 starts this season and has a record of 4-5 with an ERA of 4.24. His WHIP for the season is currently 1.25. The last time he took the mound, Wacha finished with a no-decision, going 5 1/3 innings and giving up two earned runs on five hits. He has given up two earned runs in each of his last three outings. Wacha has a total of six quality starts this season and is averaging 7.41 strikeouts per nine innings.
Royals Offense Breakdown
As a team, the Royals are averaging 4.7 runs per game, which is 9th in the league. At home, they are even better, averaging 5.4 runs per contest. Kansas City’s team batting average is .247 (10th) and they are near the top of the league in terms of home runs. Over his last 10 games, Bobby Witt Jr. has gone 13/41 with one home run and five RBIs.
Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez have been the Royals’ top power threats this season, with Witt Jr. leading the team in batting average (.318) and home runs (12). Perez is batting .286 and has gone deep 11 times. His 45 RBIs are 3rd on the team.
Texas is 35-40 overall and trail the Mariners by 7.5 games in the AL West. So far, they are 9-14 against other AL West teams. The Rangers have won two straight games, and they are 4-6 over their last 10 contests.
At home, the Rangers are 18-19 this season compared to a 17-21 mark on the road. As the favorite, Texas has gone 21-19 and 14-21 as the underdog. Texas has won two straight at home, and they are 15-13 as the home favorite this year. So far, their overall series record is 10-13-1, and they have dropped two straight series.
When the Rangers win, they do so by an average of 3.9 runs per game, but when they lose, they lose by an average of 3.7 runs per game. Their overall run line record is 34-41, and they are 17-20 against the run line at home. They have covered the run line in three straight games and are 19-16 against the run line as an underdog this season.
When the Texas Rangers are at home, the over/under line is set at 8.5 runs. The Rangers have an over/under record of 9-17 when the line is set at 8.5 runs. Overall, the Rangers’ games have averaged 8.7 runs per game this season, and their over/under record is 28-44.
Jon Gray Gets The Start For The Rangers
Jon Gray is looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Mets, as he gets the start for the Rangers today. Against the Mets, he gave up 9 earned runs in just 3 innings of work. That day, he gave up 2 homers. In his 12 starts, Gray has a record of 2-3 and an ERA of 3.31. Looking at his overall numbers, Gray has a WHIP of 1.32 and opponents are batting .254 vs. Gray this season. Out of his 14 appearances, Gray has turned in five quality starts. Per nine innings, he is averaging 8.95 strikeouts and 2.62 walks.
Rangers Offense Breakdown
Adolis Garcia and Corey Seager have been the Rangers’ top power threats this season, with Garcia’s 13 homers being the 2nd most on the team and Seager’s 14 long balls leading the club. However, Garcia is batting just .212 for the season, and Seager isn’t much better at .252. Marcus Semien has also been a key run producer for the Rangers, as his 43 RBIs are the most on the team, and he is batting .252.
Josh Smith, Robbie Grossman, and Wyatt Langford are all on three-game hitting streaks, with Smith and Grossman each hitting a home run over that stretch. Smith has gone 4/10 in his last three games, and Grossman is 3/7. Langford has five hits in his last five games.
Royals vs Rangers Prediction
Our prediction for this Royals vs. Rangers matchup is to take the Royals on the money line, with the payout being +112. We have the Royals winning this one by a final score of 5-4.
Looking at the starting pitchers, we do have Jon Gray finishing with more strikeouts than Michael Wacha. However, Gray is projected to finish with six K’s, and Wacha with four, so we don’t see either pitcher as a big strikeout option.
Offensively, the Rangers are projected to finish with just eight hits, compared to the Royals, who are predicted to finish with nine. However, the Rangers are projected to finish with just four runs, compared to the Royals with five.
Our best bet is to take the Royals on the money line, as there is a good payout at +112.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:June 24, 2024 Rangers, Royals