Game Details
- Time: 7:40 PM ET
- Venue: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
- Broadcast: Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Kansas City, ESPN+
Team Form & Storylines
Kansas City Royals
- Record: 64–61 (3rd in AL Central)
- Last 10 Games: 7–3
- Streak: W4
- Recent Highlight: Took the series opener 4–3, improving to 6–1 over their last seven games
The Royals are heating up at home, riding a four-game win streak and boasting one of the AL’s best pitching staffs (3.61 team ERA). Bobby Witt Jr. enters with a seven-game hitting streak, batting .343 over his last 10 games. Maikel Garcia (.302 AVG) and Vinnie Pasquantino (23 HR, 82 RBI) round out a balanced lineup that’s clicking at the right time.
Texas Rangers
- Record: 62–64 (3rd in AL West)
- Last 10 Games: 2–8
- Streak: L1
- Recent Highlight: Dropped Game 1 despite a late rally
Texas has struggled mightily, losing nine of its last 11 games. Merrill Kelly gets the start tonight, coming off a solid outing (2 ER, 5 K) but facing a Royals team that’s won all four meetings this season. Offensively, Corey Seager (18 HR, .264 AVG) and Marcus Semien (15 HR, .228 AVG) need to spark a lineup that’s hitting just .241 over the last 10 games.
Probable Starters
| Team | Pitcher | Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Rangers | Merrill Kelly | 9–7, 4.50 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 136 K |
| Royals | Seth Lugo | 8–6, 3.77 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 110 K |
Key Matchups
| Player | Team | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Bobby Witt Jr. | Royals | .343 AVG last 10 games, 17 HR |
| Maikel Garcia | Royals | .302 AVG, 5-game hit streak |
| Corey Seager | Rangers | 18 HR, .264 AVG |
| Marcus Semien | Rangers | 2 HR, 5 RBI last 5 games |
Game Odds
Texas Rangers 8.5
Kansas City Royals – 112
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Monday, August 18, 2025
