PREVIEW: Yankees Host Rangers in Middle Game of Series NEW YORK (Interstat) — The New York Yankees host the Texas Rangers on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium II in the second game of a three-game series. The forecast calls for cloudy skies and 71 degrees at first pitch. New York enters with the best record in the American League at 24-11. Texas, which dropped three of four in Detroit over the weekend, is 16-18 and in fourth place in the AL West. The Yankees will start right-hander Will Warren (4-0, 2.84 ERA), who has been sharp in his first season as a full-time member of the rotation. Texas counters with veteran right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (3-4, 4.10 ERA), who is winless in his past two starts. The clubs split a four-game series in Texas last week, with the Yankees winning Monday and Tuesday before the Rangers salvaged a 3-0 victory April 29. Tuesday’s series opener ended in a 3-3 tie, a game suspended due to rain in the eighth inning. Players to Watch For the Yankees, Aaron Judge has been red-hot. Over his past seven games, Judge is batting .391 (9-for-23) with four home runs and nine RBIs, including a two-run homer in Monday’s 12-1 victory over Baltimore. He had a three-hit, three-RBI game April 27 at Texas. For the Rangers, right-hander Jack Leiter is not scheduled to start but is a key arm in the bullpen. Over his past five appearances — all starts — Leiter is 1-4 with a 6.43 ERA. He took the loss Sunday in Detroit, allowing five earned runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings while striking out 10. In his only outing against the Yankees this season, April 27, he allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings in a 4-2 loss. Recent Results Texas lost Sunday 7-1 to the Tigers. Besides Leiter’s effort, reliever Gavin Collyer pitched a scoreless inning and outfielder Ezequiel Duran went 1-for-4. The Yankees are riding a five-game winning streak after Monday’s 12-1 rout of Baltimore. Judge went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Left fielder Cody Bellinger drove in three runs despite going 1-for-4. Rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler earned the win, allowing one run on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. Looking Ahead The series concludes Thursday afternoon. Texas then returns home for a six-game homestand against the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Yankees travel to Milwaukee for a three-game series beginning Friday. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-3 Yankees victory.