Texas @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2013 ) Texas 3, Kansas City 1

Owners of the most road wins in the majors (45), the Texas Rangers have one more big test remaining before heading home for the final seven games. The Rangers look to keep pace in the American League wild-card race on Sunday when they visit the Kansas City Royals in the rubber match of a three-game series. Texas, which is a half-game behind Cleveland for the second AL wild-card spot, has to face one the league’s hottest pitchers in James Shields.

Craig Gentry boasts seven hits combined in his last two starts for the Rangers, who have won only five of 19 games in September. The Royals are 12-7 this month, but stand 3 1/2 games behind Cleveland and need to win out to have a chance at a playoff spot. Kansas City leadoff hitter Alex Gordon must pick it up for that to happen after going 0-for-9 the last two days.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Alexi Ogando (7-4, 3.15 ERA) vs. Royals RH James Shields (12-9, 3.33)

Ogando was supposed to only go two or three innings in his last outing at Tampa Bay, but went five and allowed only one run on two hits. The 29-year-old yielded three runs or fewer in 13 of his 16 starts this season and none in four relief appearances. Gordon and Billy Butler are each 1-for-10 against Ogando, who is 1-0 with two saves in eight appearances (three starts) versus Kansas City with a 3.86 ERA.

Shields beat Cleveland in his last two starts to keep the Royals' playoff hopes alive and is 8-2 over 11 outings since July 26. The 31-year-old boasts a 1.59 ERA in those eight victories and has gone over the 200-inning mark for the seventh consecutive year. Elvis Andrus is 11-for-26 versus Shields, who is 7-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 12 career outings against Texas.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers RHP Joe Nathan has 41 career saves against the Royals, more than any pitcher against the Kansas City franchise and his highest total versus any team.

2. Kansas City RHP Greg Holland needs one save to equal the club record of 45 shared by Jeff Montgomery (1993) and Dan Quisenberry (1983).

3. The Royals lead the AL in bullpen ERA (2.55) and Texas is second at 2.96.

PREDICTION: Royals 4, Rangers 1