By The Associated Press
The Kansas City Royals start a three-game series at home against the Texas Rangers on Friday.
Texas Rangers (17-15, second in the AL West) vs. Kansas City Royals (19-13, second in the AL Central)
Kansas City, Missouri; Friday, 7:40 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Michael Lorenzen (2-1, 4.24 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 14 strikeouts); Royals: Brady Singer (2-1, 2.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 34 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Royals -118, Rangers -101; over/under is 9 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals host the Texas Rangers to begin a three-game series.
Kansas City has a 12-5 record in home games and a 19-13 record overall. Royals hitters are batting a collective .236, which ranks 10th in the AL.
Texas is 7-6 in road games and 17-15 overall. The Rangers have the third-ranked team batting average in the AL at .249.
The teams meet Friday for the first time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Salvador Perez has a .355 batting average to lead the Royals, and has five doubles and seven home runs. Bobby Witt Jr. is 14-for-38 with 10 RBI over the past 10 games.
Adolis Garcia has seven doubles, eight home runs and 25 RBI while hitting .292 for the Rangers. Nate Lowe is 12-for-35 with two doubles and a home run over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES:
Royals: 6-4, .233 batting average, 3.04 ERA, outscored opponents by 12 runs
Rangers: 6-4, .236 batting average, 2.30 ERA, outscored opponents by 10 runs
INJURIES:
Royals: Alec Marsh: 15-Day IL (forearm), Josh Taylor: 60-Day IL (biceps), Jake Brentz: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Carlos Hernandez: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Kris Bubic: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Wright: 60-Day IL (shoulder)