Royals at Rangers
The Texas Rangers begin an 11-game homestand that includes seven against the two worst teams in the American League on Thursday with the first of four against the Kansas City Royals. The Rangers, who are 19-5 versus the Royals since the start of 2016 after taking two of three in Kansas City earlier this month, salvaged a 3-3 road trip with an 8-7 victory over Seattle on Wednesday afternoon.
Texas outfielder Nomar Mazara hopes to stay hot after going 7-for-13 with five runs scored, a home run and two RBIs in the three games against the Mariners, extending his hitting streak versus Seattle to 14 contests (.403). Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo (103 career home runs, 100 career singles) missed Wednesday's game as a precaution with a sore wrist but manager Chris Woodward told reporters: "If I were to bet, I'd say he'd probably play (Thursday)." The Royals (18-37) have lost six of their last seven contests after getting swept by the White Sox in Chicago - 8-7 on Wednesday after rallying from a 7-1 deficit - to start their seven-game road trip. The Rangers (27-26) send red-hot Mike Minor to the mound Thursday against Jakob Junis, who recorded his first quality start since May 1 in his last outing.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jakob Junis (3-5, 5.58 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Mike Minor (5-3, 2.55)
Junis received a no-decision after allowing three runs, six hits and two walks while striking out seven in six innings of Kansas City's 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday. It was a big improvement for the 26-year-old Illinois native, who was 0-3 with a 7.02 ERA in his previous three outings. Junis lost his only start against Texas when he yielded three runs, five hits and four walks in six innings of a 3-2 loss last June 20.
Minor permitted one run, five hits and two walks while striking out five in six innings of a 3-2 loss to the Angels in Anaheim on Saturday. The 31-year-old Tennessee native is 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA in his last six starts and is 3-1, 2.08 in five home turns this season. Minor is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA in four starts against the Royals after allowing one run and eight hits over five innings of a 6-1 victory at Kansas City on May 15.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers OF Hunter Pence (.304) leads the AL and is second in baseball with 30 RBIs on the road - one shy of Pittsburgh's Josh Bell, who has played seven more such games.
2. Royals rookie 2B Nicky Lopez (.237) went 3-for-5 with three of his four career RBIs on Wednesday after going 0-for-17 in his previous four games.
3. Texas hosts Baltimore (17-39) for three games next week before AL West rival Oakland comes in for four.