Rangers at Royals
The Texas Rangers look to extend their season-best four-game winning streak when they conclude their three-game series against the host Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. Texas has scored 28 runs during their victory splurge but still stands 13 games below .500.
Nomar Mazara and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each recorded three hits while Delino DeShields delivered a two-run double to lead a 12-hit attack in Tuesday's 4-1 triumph. Shin-Soo Choo went 1-for-5 to extend his streak of reaching base to 33 games, the longest by a Ranger since Mark Teixeira reached safely in 36 consecutive contests in 2006. Kansas City notched only four hits on Tuesday as it lost its eighth straight game and 14th in its last 15. The Royals own the worst home record in the majors at 10-28, and their 22-51 overall mark is the worst in franchise history through 73 games.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Austin Bibens-Dirkx (0-1, 6.55 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jakob Junis (5-7, 4.43)
Bibens-Dirkx was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday to make his third major-league start of the season. The 33-year-old took the loss when he faced the Royals on May 24 as he gave up six runs - four earned - and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. Bibens-Dirkx has served up 10 homers in just 45 1/3 frames on the road (13 appearances - four starts) during his tenure with the club.
Junis has lost four straight starts and is winless over his last five outings. The 25-year-old has served up three homers and given up six runs in each of his last two turns, the most recent being a loss to Houston on Friday in which he allowed seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Junis has given up 18 homers this season, with 13 coming in eight home starts (3-5, 4.84 ERA).
WALK-OFFS
1. The Royals have been outscored 99-36 while going 2-15 this month.
2. Texas RHP Keone Kela recorded his 17th consecutive save this season with a perfect ninth inning on Tuesday.
3. Kansas City 1B Lucas Duda (foot) went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer for Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday during the second game of his rehab assignment.