The set-up: The KC Royals and Texas Rangers, two underachievers so far in 2018, continue a four-game series Saturday afternoon in Arlington. Texas ended the New York Yankees' streak of winning eight straight series with a dramatic 12-10 victory on Wednesday and opened this series on Thursday having totaled 23 runs over its previous three games prior to managing only five hits (all singles) in an 8-2 defeat against Kansas City. However, the Rangers rebounded nicely in Friday's 8-4 victory, hitting three HRs while scoring at least one run in five innings for their third win in the last four contests. The 21-32 Rangers attempt to prolong one of their most successful stretches of the season Saturday when they host the third of four games against the Royals. KC's loss last night snapped a season-best three-game winning streak for the 17-34 Royals, who rank sixth in the majors in runs scored this month with 109, after finishing 29th in April with 85. Kansas City has picked up the pace offensively over the last four games, totaled 22 runs to match the output it had over the previous nine contests combined.

The pitching matchup: Ian Kennedy (1-5, 5.30 ERA) steps to the mound on Saturday to counter the ageless Bartolo Colon (2-2, 3.51 ERA) of Texas. Kennedy's lone win of 2018 came back on April 7 (1-0 at Cleveland) and he takes the mound here, having allowed a total of 19 runs and 24 hits across 15 2/3 innings over his last three outings. He dropped his fifth straight decision Monday at St. Louis, surrendering five runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. Despite a 3.58 ERA in six career starts vs. Texas, Kennedy has yet to earn a victory, going 0-2. Colon is coming off his worst start of the season in Monday's 10-5 loss to the Yankees, yielding four HRs among the season-high six runs and eight hits he allowed in 5 1/3 innings. The former Cy Young Award winner has been significantly worse at home (0-2, 5.46 ERA) than he has on the road (2-0, 1.59), surrendering 10 of his 13 HRs in Globe Life Park. Colon is 15-11 with a 5.04 in 31 appearances (30 starts) against Kansas City throughout his long career.

The pick: Both pitchers will be making their 11th start of 2018 and while both have seen their teams lose more than they've won (KC is 3-7 in Kennedy's 1st 10 starts, while Texas is 4-6 in Colon's 1st 10), the similarity ends there. Kennedy has an 'ugly' 5.30 ERA, a 1.54 WHIP and opponents are batting .295 against him. Meanwhile, Colon's owns a respectable 3.51 ERA, an outstanding 0.92 WHIP plus opponents are batting a modest .225 against him. Colon has 242 career wins, one shy of matching Hall of Famer Juan Marichal (243) for most wins in MLB history by a native of the Dominican Republic. His 45th birthday was Thursday and I say he gives himself a belated birthday present, joining the great Juan Marichal with 243 career wins. Make Texas a 10* play.