PREVIEW: Royals at Rangers ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — The Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers, both languishing in the lower tiers of the American League standings, open a three-game series at Globe Life Park on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT under cloudy skies with a temperature of 81 degrees. The Royals (22-34) arrive in Arlington having lost four of their last five, punctuated by a 7-0 shutout against the New York Yankees on Wednesday. Kansas City sends right-hander Stephen Kolek (3-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound. Kolek has been a bright spot for a struggling rotation, making three appearances and earning wins in each without allowing an earned run across his outings. Texas (25-31) is coming off a 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Thursday, dropping three of four in that series. The Rangers counter with right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 5.40 ERA). Eovaldi is coming off his roughest start of the season, allowing five earned runs on four hits over seven innings in a 5-1 loss to the Astros on Thursday. Players to watch For Kansas City, left-hander Noah Cameron has been a consistent performer despite a 0-4 record in his last four starts. Cameron worked five innings and allowed two earned runs against the Yankees on Wednesday, striking out four. In his previous outing, he threw six scoreless innings against Seattle. For Texas, Eovaldi will look to rebound after his difficult outing against Houston. The veteran right-hander tossed seven scoreless innings in a win at Houston on May 17, striking out eight, and allowed just one earned run over eight innings in a win at the New York Yankees on May 6. Betting lines Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-3 Texas victory. The ELO system gives the Rangers a 56.20 percent probability of winning. Despite that, Kansas City has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The over/under is 7.5 runs. Up next The series continues Saturday with the same two teams at Globe Life Field, followed by the Sunday finale. The Royals then travel to Cincinnati for a three-game set beginning Monday, while the Rangers visit St. Louis for a three-game series starting Monday. The clubs meet again June 9-10 in Kansas City.