Rangers at Royals on Aug 21, 2025 features Patrick Corbin for Texas against Michael Lorenzen of Kansas City. Texas has scuffled lately (3-9 over 12) while Kansas City has surged to 11-7 in August, setting up a pivotal late-season swing. Odds lean toward a tight, pitching-driven game: Rangers at -105 and Royals at -115 with a 9-run total. The model’s best bet favors Kansas City on the moneyline, and it nudges sportsbook action toward Texas with a +1.5 spread, while staying away from the 9.0 total. The latest trends show Texas slipping in recent games, Kansas City riding momentum at home against teams with losing records, and an Under trend in Royasl matchups vs AL foes. Fantasy players should note Corbin’s bounce-back window and Lorenzen’s recent form as key inputs for daily lineups and DFS decisions.

Jacob deGrom’s start in Kansas City was skipped due to shoulder fatigue, with Rangers officials opting for rest and a quick examination that cleared him to keep throwing. He won’t land on the injured list and is expected to miss only one turn, returning to the rotation afterward. The decision, described as prudent, reflects Texas’s plan to manage a heavy workload after a historically limited innings pace since 2019, while maintaining upside for fantasy managers who rely on deGrom’s elite strikeout and ratio numbers.

Through 24 starts, deGrom has logged 140 1/3 innings, leading Texas’s staff and ranking 16th in the AL in innings pitched. The last stretch has included a 4.20 ERA over eight appearances and 10 homers allowed in 45 innings, bumping his season ERA from 2.08 to 2.76. The Rangers considered options to cover the respite, including bullpen relief or promoting Jacob Latz, with Patrick Corbin set to slot in if needed, preserving normal rest patterns for others. The overarching takeaway: workload management remains a priority for an elite yet battle-tested rotation this season.

The Blue Jays exploded for 14 runs on 18 hits, pinning a lopsided win on the Rangers as Toronto stretched its win streak to three. Myles Straw kicked it off with a three‑run homer in the second and followed with a two‑run shot in the third, logging his first career multihomer game and a 4‑for‑5 day with five RBI. Bo Bichette ripped a bases‑cleared double in the second, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. watched from first as Springer’s return factored into the lineup, and Daulton Varsho added a two‑run homer as Toronto batted around in the fifth. Davis Schneider delivered a three‑run homer as Rowdy Tellez, in a rare position‑player stint on the mound, logged seventh‑inning action.

The 18‑hit attack bought Lauer a season‑high 102 pitches before giving way in the sixth; Corbin struggled early, exiting after just 2 1/3 frames as seven runs crossed on eight hits. The Rangers dropped their fourth in a row, while Toronto rode the offense to coast to a dominant victory. Springer’s return from a concussion and the rest‑of‑lineup momentum provided Toronto with a template of depth and pop for the upcoming stretch.

Blue Jays fans were handed a clear signal: the lineup’s depth is playing at peak efficiency, Straw’s breakout adds a dangerous speed element, and the home‑and‑away balance in the order creates a formidable fantasy profile. For Texas, the continued bullpen work and short outbursts from the bats will need to evolve to avoid further slide.

Jacob deGrom faces Chris Bassitt in a Rangers-Blue Jays tilt as Texas visits Toronto. The Texas lineup leans on Wyatt Langford in the outfield, Josh Jung at third, Corey Seager at short, Marcus Semien at second, Pederson at DH, Smith in right, and Higashioka behind the plate with Carter catching. Tellez is listed at first as part of a deep, versatile order. The game time is 6:07 p.m. Central and the contest is a pick ’em, underscoring how tightly matched these clubs are.

Fantasy angles hinge on deGrom’s return and Langford’s rise, with Jung and Seager anchoring the lineup as high-ceiling producers. Bassitt anchors Toronto’s rotation, offering a window for pitchers to exploit aggressive Rangers' bats. Higashioka’s catching duties and Semien’s steady bat add veteran depth to an otherwise youthful Texas group, making this a compelling daily fantasy and betting canvas.

Zack Wheeler dominated in Arlington, fanning seven across a three-hit, seven-inning stage, as Philadelphia held off Texas 4-2 to sweep the series. Edmundo Sosa connected for a solo homer, Bryce Harper lined an RBI double, and Weston Wilson delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth, backed by a stingy Phillies bullpen and a closing clinic from Jhoan Duran, who earned his 20th save since the blockbuster swap. The Rangers jumped out front on Joc Pederson’s first-inning two-run shot, but Philadelphia answered with a sustained late surge to reclaim the lead and seal it.

Philadelphia’s depth and late-inning urgency carried the day: Sosa’s homer tied the game in the fifth, Wilson’s single put the Phillies ahead, and Harper’s early RBI double kickstarted the comeback. Harrison Bader killed Texas’ momentum with a leaping, wall-snug robbed homer in the fifth, underscoring Philly’s sharp defense in addition to the pitching. Wheeler extended a season-long trend of six or more strikeouts for the 19th time, and the Phillies improved to 49-2 when leading after six innings and 57-2 after seven, the best marks in MLB. The club now heads to Cincinnati for a road trip opener with Taijuan Walker on the mound against Andrew Abbott, while Texas wraps up its homestand with Nathan Eovaldi opposing Ryne Nelson as the Diamondbacks visit.