The Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals will play the first of their two-three games series this weekend at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
The Rangers (25-31) are coming off a four-game series with the Houston Astros in which they won just one game, including being no-hit by the Astros on Monday. Texas and Houston both remain in the AL West race, which has seen all five teams in the division remain under .500 for much of this week.
The division is starting to look like 1994, when all four teams in the division were under .500 when the season ended in mid-August due to a player’s strike and eventual cancellation of the season. The Rangers led the division but were 10 games under .500 at the time.
The Royals (22-34) are 10 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central and have lost three straight and seven of their last 10 games. The series is always a homecoming for Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who is the son of former Rangers pitcher Bobby Witt and grew up in the area.
Here is a breakdown of the series, including how to watch, the starting pitchers, Rangers injuries and key matchups. This story will be updated if injury reports or starting pitchers change.
Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers
Where: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
Series Schedule, TV, Radio
Friday: 7:05 p.m. — TV: Rangers: CW33; Royals: Royals.TV
Saturday: 3:05 p.m. — TV: Rangers: Rangers Sports Network, can be streamed on Victory+; Royals: Royals.TV
Sunday: 1:35 p.m. — TV: Rangers: Rangers Sports Network, can be streamed on Victory+; Royals: Royals.TV
Radio: Rangers: KRLD 1080, KFLC 1270; Royals: 96.5 The Fan, Royals Radio Network
Starting Pitchers
Friday: Texas LHP MacKenzie Gore (3-4, 4.42) vs. Kansas City RHP Stephen Kolek (3-0, 2.77)
Saturday: Texas RHP Kumar Rocker (2-5, 3.96) vs. Kansas City RHP Seth Lugo (2-4, 3.74)
Sunday: Texas RHP Jack Leiter (2-4, 4.75) vs. Kansas City RHP Michael Wacha (4-2, 2.69)
Key Matchups
Based on the starting pitching matchups, these are hitters to watch against those pitchers this weekend:
Kyle Higashioka (TEX) vs. Kolek, one HR, three RBI in two at-bats.
Starling Marte (KC) vs. Gore, .385 average, one HR, two RBI in 13 at-bats.
Danny Jansen (TEX) vs. Lugo, one HR, one RBI in three at-bats.
Evan Carter (TEX) vs. Wacha, .375 average, three RBI in eight at-bats.
Salvador Perez (KC) vs. Leiter, two HR, four RBI in three at-bats.
Note: No Kansas City hitter has faced Rocker.
Rangers Injuries
10-Day Injured List: OF Wyatt Langford (right forearm strain); INF Josh Smith (right glute strain), SS Corey Seager (lower back inflammation).
15-Day Injured List: LHP Robert Garcia (left shoulder inflammation), RHP Cole Winn (right arm fatigue).
60-Day Injured List: LHP Jordan Montgomery (Tommy John surgery recovery), LHP Cody Bradford (left UCL surgery), RHP Carter Baumler (right intercostal strain).
Rangers June Schedule
at St. Louis, June 1-3; vs. Cleveland, June 5-7; at Kansas City, June 9-11; at Boston, June 12-14; vs. Minnesota June 15-16, 18; vs. San Diego June 19-21; at Miami June 22-24; at Toronto June 25-28; at Cleveland June 29-July 1.
Note: Rangers-Twins do not play on June 17 due to World Cup game at AT&T Stadium.
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