Rangers vs Royals Preview: Rocker Takes the Hill in Week 64 Showdown

The Rangers just dropped their last game and they're hungry to strike back. They're sitting at 32-34 overall, so every win matters right now. Kumar Rocker takes the mound for Texas, and this young pitcher needs to show he belongs in the big leagues. Rocker was drafted third overall by the Rangers back in 2022, and he's still proving himself. Kansas City's offense has been hot lately—winning three straight games—so Rocker's got to be sharp. The Rangers' bats lit up recently against Kansas City. They've got some serious hitters ready to swing.

The Royals are rolling right now with three straight victories under their belt. They're 28-39 overall and fighting hard to stay in games. Michael Wacha takes the ball for Kansas City—a veteran pitcher who brings steady experience. Wacha has pitched for five different teams throughout his career, so he knows how to compete. The Royals' pitching staff has serious talent with Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo leading the way. But injuries have hit them hard in the bullpen. Carlos Estévez usually closes games, but he's out right now, so Lucas Erceg is stepping in.

These teams just played each other and the games were back-and-forth battles. Texas won 6-4 on June 10th in extra innings—a wild finish with runs scoring in the tenth. The game before that, Kansas City won 5-3 with huge home runs from Caglianone that flew over 400 feet. Earlier in the season, Texas crushed Kansas City 6-3 at home. Both offenses can explode fast. When these teams play, you never know who'll score next. This Thursday matchup could go either way—that's what makes it so exciting!