Kansas City Royals vs Texas Rangers

Texas is on a 12-14 run and plays its third straight road game. The relief staff is 19th in ERA (4.17) and 15th in WHIP. The Rangers have lost eight of their last nine after a win by 4+ runs. Meanwhile, Kansas City is on a 7-4 run winning five of those as an underdog. Kansas City is seventh in team ERA (3.41), plus 14th in the pen (3.70 ERA). The Royals are 12-4 at home against righty starters, plus 20-14 at home versus AL teams allowing 4.4 or fewer runs per game. Play Kansas City as a Max Play.  

Texas hasn't found that October magic yet, on an 11-14 run. They opened this series with a 7-1 loss to the Royals yesterday. Dane Dunning (4.13 ERA) has walked 16 batters in 32+ innings and Texas is 14-34 when Dunning starts on the road. Kansas City is on a 7-3 run. Michael Wacha has great control along with a 1.59 ERA at home. His teams are 21-5 when he starts at home. The Royals are 12-3 at home against righty starters, plus 17-8 versus AL teams with an on-base percentage .330 or worse. Kansas City is fourth in team ERA (3.07) with a Top 10 bullpen (3.28 ERA). And MLB teams like the Royals that are outscoring opponents by one or more runs per game are 30-4 after allowing one run or less in three consecutive contests. Play Kansas City as a Max Play. 

Kansas City has been streaky this season and they have won two in a row while allowing only two runs, including a 6-1 victory at Toronto on Wednesday before an off day yesterday. Michael Massey hit a three-run homer for Kansas City and the Blue Jays were held to four hits for the second game in a row. Brady Singer goes tonight for the Royals and he is 2-1 with a 2.82 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP while not allowing more than two runs in four of five starts this season. Kansas City is 12-5 at home and it will face Mike Lorenzen, who gave up five runs on six hits in six innings in an 8-4 loss to Cincinnati his last outing on April 27. The Royals have a better record than Texas and the defending champs are just 7-6 on the road. The Ranger bullpen has only six saves, which are third fewest in the American League. Take the Royals as a Max Play.