The Texas Rangers are on a roll, aiming for their second sweep of the season against the struggling Kansas City Royals. The Royals, however, are determined to avoid being swept for the second time this year as the two teams gear up for their final clash in Arlington, Texas.
In their most recent game, the Rangers were in control throughout, but the Royals battled back with single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to force extra innings. Kansas City took the lead in the top of the 10th inning, but Texas fought back with a two-out rally to claim an 8-5 victory, thanks to a clutch three-run homer by Jonah Heim. Adolis Garcia also delivered a key RBI single in the 10th, breaking out of a recent slump with a grand slam on Tuesday night.
The Rangers have started the season strong with a 7-4 record, their best 11-game start since 2013. They have won eight straight series against the Royals and 10 of their last 12 matchups, making them a formidable opponent. However, the Rangers’ shortstop, Corey Seager, exited Tuesday’s game with hamstring tightness, leaving his status for the remainder of the series uncertain. If he is sidelined, Josh Smith will likely get the majority of playing time at shortstop.
Texas will send right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (1-1, 4.22 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. Eovaldi has a career record of 3-1 with a 3.66 ERA against the Royals. Kansas City will counter with right-hander Brad Keller (1-1, 2.61), who has struggled in his career against the Rangers with an 0-2 record and 8.44 ERA in four games.
Offensively, the Royals have shown promise, with Bobby Witt Jr. recording his third two-hit game of the season and making a terrific defensive play in the 10th inning. Vinnie Pasquantino also matched his career high with three hits, and the Royals rallied to force extra innings with run-scoring hits by Salvador Perez and MJ Melendez.
The Rangers, on the other hand, are firing on all cylinders, with Jacob deGrom setting a new team record for strikeouts in his first three appearances, and Heim hitting his third career walk-off homer. With momentum on their side, the Rangers are looking to add another win to their impressive record, while the Royals are hoping to turn their luck around and avoid another defeat.
In conclusion, Wednesday’s game between the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals promises to be an exciting matchup, with both teams vying for a win. Will the Rangers secure their second sweep of the season, or will the Royals rise to the challenge and avoid another defeat? Only time will tell.