Royals bring 1-0 series advantage over Rangers into game 2

By Canadian Press on June 18, 2025.

Kansas City Royals (35-38, fourth in the AL Central) vs. Texas Rangers (36-37, third in the AL West)

Arlington, Texas; Wednesday, 8:05 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Kris Bubic (5-4, 1.92 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 82 strikeouts); Rangers: Patrick Corbin (4-5, 3.66 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 49 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Royals -127, Rangers +105; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals play the Texas Rangers with a 1-0 series lead.

Texas is 23-14 in home games and 36-37 overall. The Rangers are 19-2 in games when they scored five or more runs.

Kansas City has gone 16-19 on the road and 35-38 overall. The Royals are 26-8 in games when they out-hit their opponents.

The matchup Wednesday is the second time these teams match up this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Marcus Semien has seven doubles and seven home runs for the Rangers. Evan Carter is 12 for 32 with three doubles and three home runs over the past 10 games.

Vinnie Pasquantino has seven doubles, a triple and 10 home runs for the Royals. Salvador Perez is 10 for 38 with two doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 7-3, .261 batting average, 2.90 ERA, outscored opponents by 25 runs

Royals: 2-8, .242 batting average, 4.50 ERA, outscored by 20 runs

INJURIES: Rangers: Josh Smith: day-to-day (hamstring), Tyler Mahle: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Nathan Eovaldi: 15-Day IL (tricep), Joc Pederson: 10-Day IL (hand), Cody Bradford: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jon Gray: 60-Day IL (wrist), Josh Sborz: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Royals: Cole Ragans: 15-Day IL (rotator cuff), Michael Massey: 10-Day IL (ankle), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Sam Long: 15-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Wright: 15-Day IL (shoulder)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Associated Press