AP Sports Preview NEW YORK (Interstat) — The Texas Rangers visit the New York Yankees on Thursday for a split doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, with first pitch of the afternoon game scheduled for 1:05 p.m. and the evening game at 7:05 p.m. EDT. The forecast calls for 66 degrees and rain. Texas (16-19) has lost two straight after Wednesday’s 6-0 shutout win over the Yankees. New York (25-11) owns the best record in the American League and leads the season series 4-2. Texas will start left-hander MacKenzie Gore (2-2) in the afternoon game and left-hander Ryan Weathers (2-2) in the nightcap. Gore has struggled recently, allowing 10 earned runs over his last two starts covering 9 2/3 innings. Weathers has been sharp, posting a 2.77 ERA over his last three outings. New York counters with right-hander Brent Headrick (3-0, 1.80 ERA) in the opener and right-hander Elmer Rodríguez (2-1, 3.12) in the afternoon game. Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom, who has moved to the bullpen, is a player to watch after a rough outing Tuesday in which he allowed six earned runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 7-4 loss. DeGrom is 3-2 with a 2.88 ERA overall, but the Yankees have hit him hard in two starts this season, scoring seven earned runs in 12 1/3 innings. Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger is the player to watch for New York. The veteran slugger went 2 for 3 with three RBIs in Tuesday’s win and is batting .400 (11 for 27) with three home runs and 11 RBIs over his last seven games. The Interstat game simulator projects a 7-3 Yankees victory. New York is a -1.5 run favorite on the spread, with an over/under of 8. Texas will host the Chicago Cubs for three games starting Friday. New York travels to Milwaukee for a three-game series beginning Friday.