Max Scherzer and the Rangers will be looking to extend their three-game winning streak on Sunday, as they are facing off against the Royals, who have lost two straight. This one is getting started at 2:35 PM ET from Globe Life Field in Arlington. Alec Marsh is starting for the Royals, and they are 3rd in the AL Central, with a record of 42-36, while the Rangers are 3rd in the AL West at 36-40.
The over/under line for Sunday's game is at 8.5 runs, and the Rangers are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -153. The Royals are +129 on the money line. BSKC will be televising this game.
Kansas City vs. Texas Matchup At A Glance
- Teams: Royals at Rangers
- Where: Globe Life Field Arlington
- Date: Sunday, June 23rd
- Betting Odds TEX -153 | KC +129 O/U 8.5
Royals vs Rangers Last Game Recap
Thanks to a five-run 8th inning for the Rangers' offense, they cruised to a 6-0 win over the Royals in the most recent game of this series. Heading into the game, the Rangers were favored at -145 on the money line.
The starting pitching matchup for this game featured Jon Gray for the Rangers, and he went six innings while striking out three and didn't give up a run. Gray picked up a win in the game, while Michael Wacha went five innings for the Royals, giving up one earned run.
Kansas City had a chance to get on the board in the 4th inning, as they loaded the bases with no outs. However, Gray was able to get out of the jam without giving up a run. As for the Rangers, they scored their first two runs in the 5th and added four insurance runs in the 8th.
Royals Preview
Heading into today's game, the Royals have an over/under record of 8-15 when the total line is set at 8.5 runs. Their games have averaged 8.7 runs per game this season, and their overall over/under record is 34-41. Kansas City's run line record is 44-34, and they have a +0.6 run margin on average.
Overall, the Royals are 42-36, and they are currently on a three-game losing streak. This comes after taking two of three from the Red Sox. In the AL Central, they trail the Guardians by eight games. Kansas City's series record this season is 11-12-1, and they have an even 17-22 record on the road.
Right-hander Alec Marsh gets the start for the Royals today as he faces the Rangers on the road. He has made 13 starts this year and has a record of 5-4 with an ERA of 4.37. Marsh's WHIP for the season is currently 1.17. In his 13 starts, he has turned in three quality starts and is coming off a rough outing in which he gave up seven earned runs in three innings of work. Before that, he had not allowed a homer in three straight outings. Opponents are batting .229 off Marsh this season. Per nine innings, he is averaging 8.36 strikeouts and 2.7 walks.
So far this season, the Royals are averaging 4.6 runs per game, which is 10th in the MLB. At home, they have been even better, averaging 5.4 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .246, which is 10th in the league, and are also near the top of the league in terms of avoiding strikeouts.
Bobby Witt Jr. has been the Royals' top hitter this season, with a batting average of .314 and a team-high 12 home runs. Salvador Perez is also having a strong season, batting .283 with 11 homers. Over his last eight games, MJ Melendez has gone 8/23 with four RBIs, and Freddy Fermin has two homers in his last seven games.
Rangers Preview
Currently, the Rangers are 36-40 and are 3rd in the AL West, 7.5 games behind the Mariners. They have won three straight games and are 5-5 in their last 10. At home, Texas is 19-19, while on the road, they are 17-21.
When favored, the Rangers are 22-19 straight up and 18-20 on the run line at home. Their games have averaged 8.6 runs, and their over/under record is 28-45 for the season. This year, 35.5% of their games have had over/under lines of 8.5 runs or higher.
Max Scherzer is coming off a season in which he made 27 starts and went 13-6. His ERA for the year was 3.77, and he finished with a WHIP of 1.12. Scherzer's batting average allowed was .218, and his on-base percentage allowed was .277. The right-hander's slugging percentage allowed was .401, and his FIP for the season was 4.32. Scherzer finished the year with 14 quality starts and an average of 10.26 strikeouts per nine innings. His walks per nine innings came in at 2.65, and his walks per game were 1.7. For the season, Scherzer allowed 28 home runs and finished with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.9.
Over the last 10 games, Wyatt Langford has gone 13/36 (.361) with two home runs and 13 RBIs, and he is currently on a four-game hitting streak. Josh Smith is also on a four-game hitting streak and has gone 10/21 in his last eight games, including two homers. Smith also has six RBIs during this stretch.
As a team, the Rangers are averaging 4.3 runs per game and have been slightly better on the road (4.5 RPG) than at home (4.1 RPG). Texas is 16th in home runs and has the 13th batting average in the league. As a team, they are 6th in fewest strikeouts and have been pretty good at drawing walks. Marcus Semien and Corey Seager are both batting .252 for the season, with Seager leading the team with 14 homers.
Royals vs. Rangers Prediction: Royals ML +129
We see the Royals picking up a 5-4 road win over the Rangers. With the Royals being the underdogs at +129, we see this as a great opportunity to take advantage of the money line.
Looking at the starting pitchers, Alec Marsh is projected to finish with seven strikeouts, and his chances of picking up a win are the seventh best among starters today. We also like that he is projected to give up just five earned runs, which is the fifth best among starters.
