Texas Rangers vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, Preview and Odds - 08/19/2025

Game Time: 7:40 pm ET, Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Venue:  Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Where to Watch:  Rangers Sports Network, FDSKC

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rangers +104, Royals -126; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rangers +105, Royals -125; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rangers +105, Royals -125; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Texas Rangers:  62-63 (3rd place, AL West)

Kansas City Royals:  63-61 (3rd place, AL Central)

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Texas Rangers:  2-8 last 10

Kansas City Royals:  7-3 last 10

The Rangers are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 62-63 record overall and have a road record of 25-37. This is the 2nd game of a 4-game series with the Royals on Tuesday with the series opener still to be played on Monday. Their offense ranks 27th in the MLB with a .679 OPS. Jack Leiter is their starting pitcher on Monday while Merrill Kelly is making his start in this game on Tuesday. He is 9-7 with a 3.36 ERA this season. His team lost their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 2 ER, 1 HR, and 1 BB with 5 SO on 7 hits through 6 IP against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Royals are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Chicago White Sox 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 63-61 record overall and have a home record of 33-29. This is the 2nd game of a 4-game series with the Rangers on Tuesday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Monday. Their offense ranks 24th in the MLB with a .695 OPS. Michael Wacha is their starting pitcher on Monday while Seth Lugo is making his start in this game on Tuesday. He is 8-6 with a 3.77 ERA this season. His team lost their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 6 earned runs, 2 homers, and 4 walks with 2 strikeouts on 6 hits through 4 innings pitched against the Washington Nationals.

The current betting odds have the Rangers listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rangers haven't looked great in their games this season with their 62-63 record overall which has them right in the middle of the AL West. They have been a terrible road team this year too with their 25-37 road record. Meanwhile, the Royals have looked good in their games this season with their 63-61 record overall which has them right in the middle of the AL Central. They have looked better in their own ballpark too with their 33-29 home record this season. The Royals have also been really hot lately as they are 7-3 in their last 10 games while the Rangers are 2-8 and have been in a big slump, but neither team really has an edge with the starters and the Rangers do have the better pitching overall. Kelly is starting for the Rangers in this one and he has been having a good season, even going back to his starts on the Diamondbacks. He is 9-7 with a 3.36 ERA and hasn't been giving up many runs this year even though he was racking up losses with Arizona. He is coming off a good start in which he gave up 2 earned runs though and that has been a common theme for him. The team has lost 2 games in a row now with him starting, but the Rangers are due for a win with him since he has been pitching well. Lugo is on the mound for the Royals in this one and he has looked good this season. He is 8-6 with a 3.77 ERA, but lately he hasn't looked great. His team has also lost 2 games in a row now with him starting and he is coming off a really bad start in which he gave up 6 earned runs in 4 innings. The Rangers don't have a great offense, but they have looked better lately and Lugo is coming off a bad start against another bad offense anyway. The Rangers need a bounce back series and this is a good situation for them since the Royals have been really up and down all year and the Rangers can edge them out with their better pitching. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rangers to win this game. 

Rangers Royals Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Tuesday, August 19, 2025 (7:40 pm ET start time) is Rangers 4 Royals 1.

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Texas Rangers: 49-34 (+9.3 units) on the moneyline against AL Central opponents. 185-161 (+7.1 units) on the moneyline against right-handed starters. 101-75 (+10 units) on the moneyline vs. AL teams scoring 4.4 or less runs/game on the season. 71-46 OVER on the road when the money line is +125 to -125.

Kansas City Royals: 35-45 (-6.9 units) on the moneyline against AL West opponents. 207-247 (-13 units) on the moneyline in all games. 110-115 (-6.2 units) on the moneyline in home games. 93-66 UNDER vs. AL teams scoring 4.4 or less runs/game on the season.

Texas Rangers:  J. Pederson (1B) Day To Day - Undisclosed. J. Burger (1B) Day To Day - Wrist. J. Gray (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. S. Haggerty (CF) Ten Day IL - Oblique. A. Garcia (RF) Ten Day IL - Ankle. J. Webb (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Back. C. Martin (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Calf. T. Mahle (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. C. Bradford (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Sborz (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.

Kansas City Royals:  H. Harvey (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Abductor. S. Cruz (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. K. Bubic (SP) Sixty Day IL - Rotator Cuff. J. Caglianone (RF) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. M. Canha (LF) Ten Day IL - Elbow. M. Massey (2B) Ten Day IL - Ankle. C. Ragans (SP) Sixty Day IL - Rotator Cuff. J. McArthur (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. A. Marsh (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.

“He's so tough. He's got to be, I'd say, one of the toughest, if not the toughest player, I've ever had.” - Bruce Bochy on Marcus Semien after his team’s win against the Blue Jays in their game on Sunday.

“You start to feel a little momentum. Guys are feeling it a little bit. Now, we're back in it.” - Matt Quatraro after his team’s win against the White Sox in their game on Sunday.

Josh Smith (L) RF

Wyatt Langford (R) LF

Corey Seager (L) SS

Rowdy Tellez (L) DH

Evan Carter (L) CF

Marcus Semien (R) 2B

Jake Burger (R) 1B

Cody Freeman (R) 3B

Jonah Heim (S) C

Mike Yastrzemski (L) RF

Bobby Witt Jr. (R) SS

Vinnie Pasquantino (L) DH

Maikel Garcia (R) 3B

Salvador Perez (R) 1B

Adam Frazier (L) LF

Jonathan India (R) 2B

John Rave (L) CF

Luke Maile (R) C

Batting Average:  Rowdy Tellez (.283)

Hits:  Marcus Semien (104)

Home Runs:  Corey Seager (18)

RBI:  Adolis García (64)

Stolen Bases:  Wyatt Langford (16)

Wins:  Nathan Eovaldi (11)

Saves:  Luke Jackson (9)

ERA:  Cole Winn (0.91)

Batting Average:  Adam Frazier (.329)

Hits:  Bobby Witt (139)

Home Runs:  Vinnie Pasquantino (22)

RBI:  Vinnie Pasquantino (80)

Stolen Bases:  Bobby Witt (32)

Wins:  Kris Bubic (8)

Saves:  Carlos Estévez (31)

ERA:  Hunter Harvey (0.00)

Managers:

Texas Rangers: Bruce Bochy (3rd season)

Kansas City Royals: Matt Quatraro (3rd season)