The fact that one team in a matchup between the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers is going for a sixth consecutive series win and the other is trying to avoid dropping a fourth straight isn't necessarily surprising.
The Rangers being in the favorable position probably is.
Texas tries for its 14th win in 17 games Saturday in Kansas City, while the slumping Royals attempt to get their offense going to avoid a ninth loss in their past 11.
The Rangers (29-26) opened the series with Friday's 4-0 victory, and with seven hits it was a comparatively modest offensive showing considering they're batting .286 with 5.94 runs per game in their past 16.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 3 with a home run to extend his road hitting streak to 12 games. He's batting .344 away from Arlington with homers in four of his lpast eight road games.
Recent infield callups Hanser Alberto and Joey Gallo each went without a hit for the first time, but they're collectively 13 for 44.
"I'm seeing the ball better so I have a better (strike) zone," Alberto told MLB's official website. "The umpires up here are better, but now I'm looking for my pitch until I get two strikes."
The Rangers haven't won six straight series since Aug. 17-Sept. 9, 2012, with that stretch also concluding in Kansas City and the season resulting in their last playoff appearance. The clubs split four from May 11-14, so Texas can also secure this season's overall series.
Kansas City (30-21) was shut out for the first time in 37 games with a season-low three hits. Over the 2-8 stretch, the Royals are batting .192 and averaging 2.10 runs.
Salvador Perez was 0 for 3 Friday, extending his slump to 2 for 26 overall and 2 for 15 in the season series.
Yordano Ventura will be charged with slowing down the Rangers.
Ventura (3-4, 4.26 ERA), who turned 24 on Wednesday, has completed seven innings in each of his past four starts, but the quality of those outings has fluctuated. The right-hander held the Chicago Cubs to a run and four hits in seven innings of Sunday's 2-1 loss and wasn't stuck with the decision.
"He just had everything going," manager Ned Yost said. "Had a really good curveball. Good command with his fastball and mixed in some changeups. He was really good."
The next step is repeating it. Prior to facing the Cubs, he allowed four runs in a 6-1 home loss to St. Louis on May 24, and he hasn't posted consecutive starts yielding under four runs since his first two of the year.
Ventura pitched in a 5-2 loss in Texas on May 13, surrendering five runs and a season-high 10 hits in seven innings to drop to 2-1 with a 3.72 ERA in three career starts against the Rangers.
Delino DeShields is 3 for 3 and Prince Fielder 3 for 4 with a homer in their matchups.
Ventura will be opposed by Wandy Rodriguez, who posted a 3.22 ERA in six May starts after a 4.82 in two during April. June, however, has traditionally been his worst month with a 5.01 mark and .820 opponent OPS.
Rodriguez (2-2, 3.55) gave up three runs -- two earned -- and a season-high nine hits in 5 2/3 innings of Sunday's 4-3 win over Boston and didn't earn the decision.
That came at home, but on the road he's gone 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in five starts. The left-hander has never pitched in Kansas City but is 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in two starts against the Royals.
