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The Kansas City Royals (42-36) finish up their 9-game road trip on Sunday with the finale of their 3-game series against the Texas Rangers (36-40). First pitch is at 2:35 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. Rangers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rangers lead 4-1
The Royals are 3-10 in their last 13 games and have gone 2-6 on their road trip so far. They have lost the 1st 2 game of the series against the Rangers, getting shut out 6-0 on Saturday after losing 6-2 on Friday.
The Rangers have won 3 games in a row after a 5-game losing streak.
Royals at Rangers projected starters
RHP Alec Marsh vs. RHP Max Scherzer
Marsh (5-4, 4.37 ERA) makes his 14th start. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 8.4 K/9 in 70 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 3 IP, 7 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 7-5 road loss to the Oakland A’s on Tuesday
- Is 1-2 with 7.20 ERA in 4 June starts
- Has allowed 4+ runs in 4 of last 5 starts
Scherzer (13-6, 3.77 ERA in 2023) makes his 2024 debut after being sidelined with back and thumb issues. In 2023, he had a 1.12 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 10.3 K/9 in 152 2/3 IP.
- Went 4-2 with 3.20 ERA in 8 regular-season starts with the Rangers after being traded from the Mets
- Is 12-5 with 3.34 ERA in 22 career starts vs. the Royals
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
Royals at Rangers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:21 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Royals +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Rangers -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Royals +1.5 (-155) | Rangers -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Royals at Rangers picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 7, Royals 3
Moneyline
The Royals are 2-6 on their current road trip and 17-22 on the road this season. Marsh has given up 4-plus runs in 4 of his last 5 starts, including 7 in a loss in his last outing. KC has been held to 2 or fewer runs in 4 of its last 6 games.
The Rangers have scored 5 or more runs in 4 straight games, but betting the Rangers on the moneyline doesn’t get you the value that the spread does.
PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
The Rangers are only 18-20 ATS at home, but they have beaten the Royals in 4 straight meetings, winning 3 of those games by at least 2 runs. Ten of their last 11 wins have been by 2 or more runs.
Also, 8 of the Royals’ last 9 losses have been by multiple runs.
BET RANGERS -1.5 (+125).
Over/Under
Five of Marsh’s last 6 starts have had totals of at least 10 runs, while the Rangers have scored 6 or more runs in 3 of their last 4 games.
BET OVER 8.5 (-105).
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