Texas @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 9, 2010 ) Kansas City 4, Texas 6
The recent storylines around the Texas Rangers have nothing to do with their best record in the AL West.
Instead, the focus is the Rangers’ latest announcement that they’re headed to bankruptcy court to try and speed up the eventual sale of the team from current owner Tom Hicks to a group headed by Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg.
While the sale of the organization could affect this year’s team depending on its status by the trade deadline, the players are more concerned about the two-game series at the Kansas City Royals.
Texas, which has lost its past two games, sends right-hander Rich Harden to the hill on Tuesday, while the Royals counter with right-hander Gil Meche.
Harden has had an up-and-down season so far with the Rangers, going 5 1/3 innings in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. He allowed two earned runs with one walk and six strikeouts in a no-decision.
When he faced the Royals earlier this season on May 8, Harden went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
Offensively, Michael Young has come on strong of late for Texas. Young is currently on a 10-game hitting streak and hit .483 during the Rangers’ latest seven-game homestand. Julio Borbon showed promising signs on Sunday, recording his eighth multi-hit game this season and driving in a run.
The bigger issue for the Rangers might be going on the road, where they will play 17 of their next 24 games. Texas has lost five consecutive road games and has a 7-11 mark away from home this season.
The first time the Rangers faced the Royals this season, Texas pulled off a four-game sweep. It happened in Arlington, of course.
But the Royals were playing under Trey Hillman and now have a new look under manager Ned Yost, who has led the team to a 6-3 record in his first nine games.
The Royals would like to see Meche pick up his first win of the season. Meche hasn’t helped his cause too much in 2010, issuing more walks (32) than strikeouts (25). In his last start, the Royals won the game but Meche didn’t factor into the decision after going five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits.
Against the Rangers, Meche is 5-10 with a 5.56 ERA in 17 lifetime starts.
Offensively, Kansas City received multi-hit games from Billy Butler, Jose Guillen, Alberto Callaspo, Mitch Maier and Yuniesky Betancourt on Sunday.