The Royals and Rangers collide once more in a showdown that’s shaping up to be a battle of pitching versus offense. Kansas City snapped a miserable six-game losing streak with a commanding 6-1 win in Game 1, but don’t expect them to repeat that dominance on Wednesday night. Below, I’ve got my preview, prediction, and best bet for this Wednesday night baseball game between the Royals and the Rangers.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
Rangers vs. Royals prediction, preview
The Royals have been struggling with their bats, ranking near the bottom in almost every offensive category. Their .250 batting average lands them 14th, but their .302 OBP and .366 slugging percentage are both 27th in the league. They’re not built to mash the ball, and while they have key players like Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez, it’s hard to ignore their inability to produce consistently. Witt, with a .282 batting average and 21 stolen bases, has shown some flashes, but his recent form (.211 in the last five games) points to an inability to consistently get on base and spark the offense. Perez, with his power potential (nine HR, 39 RBIs), is the team’s primary run producer but has also struggled to find a consistent rhythm.
Kris Bubic, their ace, has been phenomenal this year with a 1.92 ERA, but even he couldn’t avoid a rough outing in his last start against the Yankees. However, even in a tough spot, Bubic’s ability to grind through innings and minimize damage should keep Kansas City in this game. His road ERA sits at 1.48, showing he thrives away from home. The Royals’ defense behind him has also been strong, ranking seventh in ERA at 3.44.
On the other side, Patrick Corbin, while solid for the Rangers with a 3.66 ERA, is not the force he once was. He’s allowed 2+ earned runs in his last eight starts, and while he has kept opponents in check, the Rangers’ offense is no powerhouse either. Ranking 26th in batting average (.229) and 28th in OBP (.294), the Rangers are struggling to put runs on the board. Corbin’s ERA at home has been a bit better (3.00), but that’s no guarantee against a Royals team that has a knack for exploiting weak pitchers.
Adolis Garcia, the Rangers’ slugger, leads the team with 34 RBIs and eight home runs, but he’s hitting just .227 this season. The 2024 season’s struggles have spilled into 2025, with Garcia seeing his barrel rate drop to 7.9% (down from 10.6% last year), which reflects his inability to make consistent hard contact. The Rangers will look to Josh Smith to continue his solid campaign (.292 AVG, .361 OBP), as he’s been one of the few bright spots. Smith is on a 7-game hitting streak, batting .410 with four doubles, two home runs, and five RBIs in his last 10 games. Still, it’s hard to expect any Rangers batter to truly break out against Bubic’s stellar form.
However, while Kansas City is bringing top-tier pitching, their offense is not built for blowouts. Their underwhelming run support means Bubic will have to be nearly perfect. The Rangers are playing better defense, but they are vulnerable to a streaky Royals lineup that might surprise with just enough support for their ace. The Rangers’ offense might not explode, but they have a small edge here given Corbin’s ability to limit damage, even if his run support isn’t impressive either.
Royals vs. Rangers pick, best bet
This game screams under. Both teams have hit the Under more often than not this season, and the Royals have struggled to break four runs in recent games. With Bubic on the mound, you can expect a sharp outing that keeps the score low. The Rangers may have their chances against Bubic, but they’ll likely be stifled by his control and the Royals’ solid bullpen.
Ultimately, the Royals might scrape through, but I’m leaning towards the Rangers to keep this close or even win outright. With Bubic pitching well but facing an offensive void, I’m backing the Texas Rangers at +1.5 (-165) to cover the spread. This game isn’t likely to see a ton of scoring, but expect Texas to hang in and grind out a close one. The under on 8.0 runs is a locked-in play.
Best bet: Royals vs. Rangers u8.0 runs (-105)
Royals are in a rut—tail it with me in the DKN Betting Group here!
