Prizing:

1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Amazon gift card

Top 5 winners

Overview:

On Sunday, July 16th, the (43-45) Texas Rangers will be on the road to take on the (44-43) Kansas City Royals.

The Crowd:

“The Crowd” projects a final score of Royals 4.9 – Rangers 3.8 with an over/under of 8.7.

Starting Pitchers:

TEX: Yu Darvish (6-8, 3.49) vs KC: Ian Kennedy (3-6, 4.45)

Batting Stats:

Runs per game: Rangers 5.05 (6^th) > Royals 4.16 (25^th)

Batting Average: Royals .248 (21^st) > Rangers .240 (27^th)

On Base Percentage: Rangers .316 (22^nd) > Royals .300 (29^th)

Total Bases: Rangers 1269 (16^th) > Royals 1222 (24^th)

Baserunning Stats:

Stolen Bases: Rangers 76 (2^nd) > Royals 43 (19^th)

Pitching Stats:

Team Earned Run Average: Royals 4.24 (14^th) > Rangers 4.31 (15^th)

Batting Average Against: Royals .257 (18^th) > Rangers .259 (21^st)

Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched: Royals 1.36 (17^th) > Rangers 1.37 (20^th)

Strikeouts: Royals 677 (22^nd) > Rangers 624 (29^th)

Saves: Royals 20 (16^th) > Rangers 13 (29^th)

Fielding Stats:

Errors: Royals 34 (1^st) > Rangers 52 (14^th)

Summary:

The Rangers enter the game 6^th in the league in runs per game (5.05) and 15^th in team earned run average (4.31).  The Royals rank 25^th in runs per game (4.16) and 14^th in team ERA (4.24).  Kansas City is (6-4) in their last ten games while Texas is (4-6).  Texas is (4-0) against Kansas City this season outscoring them 14-5 in those games.  The Rangers will have their ace Yu Darvish (6-8, 3.49) on the mound.  Darvish has held Royals hitters to a combined .237 average against.  Brandon Moss is a player to watch with four homers in 26 at-bats against Darvish.

Eric Hosmer has been red hot for the Royals hitting in fifteen straight games heading into the All-Star break.  Royals starter Ian Kennedy (3-6, 4.45) has been up and down this season.  Kennedy has had great success against the Rangers holding them to a combined .203 average against.  Kansas City is (24-19) at home this year whereas Texas is (18-25) on the road.  I expect both starters will pitch deep into the game but I like Kansas City to win at home because they have the better bullpen.

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