Royal Flush
The Texas Rangers go for a second straight win when they take on the host Kansas City Royals in the second of a three-game series on Tuesday night. Texas won the series opener 10-4 on Monday to stay one game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels for second place in the American League West standings.
Kansas City has lost three in a row and is in last place in the AL Central, two games behind the fourth-place Detroit Tigers. These teams have been a little unpredictable, so make sure to read our in-depth preview to help you decide how you want to bet online.
Check the latest MLB picks, stats, injury reports and MLB odds for Rangers vs Royals. There are plenty of MLB predictions.
Balanced Offense Key in Series Opener
The Texas Rangers got contributions from almost everyone in the lineup on Monday night, with every starter but second baseman Marcus Semien recording at least one hit in the 10-4 win. The Rangers outhit the Royals 15-8 and were helped by a pair of Kansas City miscues as well.
“I asked for double-digits and they got it for me,” Texas manager Chris Woodward said after Monday’s win, which came on his birthday. “Our team is so talented. I know hitting is hard. I was a hitter and I know how hard it is.
“That’s the identity that we have. We’d love for that to be the identity we have every night. We take a lot of pride in having a 1-9 approach. It’s got to be every guy in the lineup. Not that everybody is going to get a hit or score a run every night, but everybody has got to contribute.”
Designated hitter Mitch Garver had a two-run home run, going 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Garver is batting .208 with six doubles, eight home runs, 18 RBIs and 18 runs scored.
Outfielder Kole Calhoun was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the contest. Calhoun is hitting .244 with 12 doubles, a triple, eight home runs, 31 RBIs and 26 runs scored.
The Rangers will have right-hander Jon Gray making his 13th start on Tuesday. Gray is 3-3 with a 4.18 ERA, striking out 68 in 64.2 innings. He’s won his last two starts, including a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday in which he went 5.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out five and walking one.
Royals Hoping to Get Jolt From Top Prospect
The Kansas City Royals are hitting the days of deciding if they want to keep fighting with their current roster or start building for the future. They may have indicated the way they’ll be going with the trade of first baseman Carlos Santana to the Seattle Mariners on Monday for two pitcher. That should open a space in the lineup for prospect Vinnie Pasquantino, who may make his MLB debut on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Pasquantino was called up after the trade, though he didn’t play in the series opener due to a late arrival at Kauffman Stadium. The rookie could provide some pop to the Royals’ lineup after hitting 18 home runs with Triple-A Omaha, which would be welcome on a team that has one of the worst scoring offenses in the majors.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield was 2-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in Monday’s loss. Merrifield is batting .230 with 16 doubles, three home runs, 32 RBIs and 35 runs scored.
Right-hander Jonathan Heasley will be on the mound for the Royals in Tuesday’s contest. Heasley is 1-3 with a 4.14 ERA in eight starts, striking out 32 over 41.1 innings. He had a rough outing in his last start, allowing four runs on four hits, including two home runs, over five innings against the Los Angeles Angels on June 21.
Rangers vs Royals Head-To-Head
The Texas Rangers have won three of the first four games this season, which just continues the trend of the last few years. Texas has won its season series with the Kansas City Royals in each of the last six seasons the teams have squared off (they didn’t meet in 2020).
Playing in Kansas City hasn’t been a problem for the Rangers, who are 13-6 at Kauffman Stadium since the start of the 2015 campaign. The MLB lines expect that trend to continue as well.
Rangers vs Royals Game Information
- Game: Rangers (35-37) vs Royals (26-46)
- Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
- Day/Time: Tuesday, 8:10 p.m. ET
- Rangers vs Royals Live Stream: MLB.TV
Rangers vs Royals Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Texas Rangers J. Gray -R | -1½ +115 | -150 | 9 -115o | 4½ -125o 4½ -105u |
| Kansas City Royals J. Heasley -R | +1½ -135 | +135 | 9 -105u | 3½ -135o 3½ +105u |
Rangers vs Royals Prediction
The Kansas City Royals may get some excitement from the debut of Pasquantino, but their offense just hasn’t been consistent enough to get the win. Look for the Texas Rangers to again have a big game at the plate in winning their second straight.
When doing your MLB betting, take Texas to win on the road.
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