Royals at Rangers
The Texas Rangers look to stay hot at home when they host the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a four-game series Sunday afternoon, but they may be forced to do so without a key bat. Slugger Joey Gallo homered in Saturday's 6-2 win but later left the game due oblique tightness, an injury that could force him to the injured list.
The 25-year-old has gone deep in consecutive games for the Rangers, who are 9-2 in their last 11 games at home. They will aim for their fourth straight series win at Globe Life Park behind right-hander Adrian Sampson on Sunday. The Royals counter with Brad Keller as they carry an MLB-worst 8-22 road record into the finale. Whit Merrifield had two of Kansas City's eight hits in Saturday's loss and is 9-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Brad Keller (3-6, 4.56 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Adrian Sampson (3-3, 4.53)
Keller gave up four runs and a season-high 10 hits in a loss at the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. He struck out exactly three batters for the fourth straight start and had 18 of them against 19 walks in the month of May. The 23-year-old faced the Rangers one time in relief as a rookie last year, allowing a run in two frames.
Sampson won each of his last three appearances, all of which saw him follow up an opener for the Rangers with at least five innings of relief. He has a 2.15 ERA in seven games out of the bullpen and a 7.66 mark in his five starts. The Washington native will be facing the Royals for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers OF-DH Hunter Pence has multiple hits in six of his last 10 games.
2. Royals SS Adalberto Mondesi has three stolen bases over the last two contests and leads the majors with 21 on the year.
3. Kansas City 3B Hunter Dozier (right thorax tightness) missed his second straight game Saturday and is not expected to return until Tuesday at the earliest.