The Kansas City Royals entered their series with the Texas Rangers just a game and a half out of first place in the American League West and will look to keep to veteran starting pitchers Michael Wacha to keep their good start to the season going on Saturday.
Texas Rangers (-112, 8.5) vs. Kansas City Royals
Wacha enters with his fielding independent bring lower than his ERA, posting a 3.99 fielding independent while pitching to quite a bit of contact with 7.4 strikeouts to 2.4 walks per nine innings to go with a 4.24 ERA.
Backing up Wacha is an offense that entered the series leading the American League in runs per game at home with nearly 5.2 runs per game despite being just fifth among American League teams in home runs per game at home.
The Royals lineup will look to get the Rangers starting pitcher Dane Dunning, who’s ERA similar to Wacha’s with a 4.13 ERA, but enters with a 5.28 fielding independent, allowing 1.9 home runs and 4.4 walks per nine innings.
Both bullpens are much improved from a season ago when both ranked 24th or worse in ERA with the Royals entering the series ninth in ERA with a 3.38 ERA while the Rangers 3.75 ERA checked in at 14th.
With the Rangers offense taking a dip from when they won the World Seeies last season, entering the series 16th in runs per game, the Royals will keep their surprising start to the season going with a win on Saturday.
The Play: Royals -102
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