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Rangers series preview: Kansas City Royals

Back from the Break

MLB: Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Rangers will start the second half of the season with a three game set in Kansas City. When the Rangers faced Kansas at home, they completed a four game sweep of the Royals.

Currently the Royals are 44-43 on the season and in third place in their division, three games back. They were 6-4 for their last 10 before the All-Star break. However, at home they’ve only scored 179 runs, the fewest in the American League.

Beltre, 22 hits away from 3,000, has a .344 career average against the Royals, his highest against any AL team.

GAME ONE: Perez

Martin has just two career starts, one in 2013 and one in 2016, against KC but in those starts he’s given up just 2-runs in 12.2 innings, a 1.42 ERA. However, both were no decisions.

GAME TWO: Hamels

Cole has four starts against the Royals. Hamels is 3-1 with a 3.67 ERA. As a Ranger, he’s given up just four runs in 21.1 innings In April he went eight innings and gave up just one run on three hits and two walks, striking out three.

In his last outing before the break, he went 7.2 shutout innings, just giving up three hits and walk. And of course he got 10 runs of support so he got the win.

GAME THREE: Darvish

Darvish has just four starts against the Royals in his career. He’s 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in those starts. In April he went eight innings and gave up two runs (solo homers) on five hits and a walk, striking out eight. He actually got run support in that game, so he did get the win.