Texas @ Kansas City preview

Texas at Kansas City

Last Meeting ( Aug 5, 2012 ) Texas 6, Kansas City 7

Adrian Beltre carried his August production into the first two days of September. The slugger will look to keep his hot streak going as the Texas Rangers vie for their 12th win in 16 outings Monday when they open a four-game set against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Beltre homered twice over the weekend versus Cleveland and has gone deep in eight of his last 11 contests for Texas, which holds a three-game lead over Oakland in the American League West.

Keeping Beltre in the ballpark will be the responsibility of Bruce Chen, who tossed 6 2/3 solid innings and struck out seven in a 3-1 triumph over Texas on May 14. While that game was in Arlington, Chen has given the home folks plenty for which to cheer. He hasn't lost at Kauffman Stadium since May 4. Kansas City salvaged the finale of its three-game series by posting a 6-4 triumph over Minnesota on Sunday.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSH (Texas), FSKC (Kansas City)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Yu Darvish (13-9, 4.31 ERA) vs. Royals LH Bruce Chen (10-10, 5.13)

Darvish turned in his second straight 10-strikeout performance on Tuesday during a 1-0 win over Tampa Bay. The 26-year-old Japan native scattered six hits to secure his rookie-leading 13th victory. Darvish has yet to face Kansas City in his brief major-league career.

Chen turned in arguably his best performance of the season by scattering four hits over eight shutout innings in a 1-0 triumph over Detroit on Wednesday. The 35-year-old Panama native has kept the ball in the park after yielding just five homers in his last eight outings. Chen is two victories shy of matching his win total of 2010 and 2011.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rangers' Jurickson Profar belted his first homer in his first career at-bat during Sunday's 8-3 victory over Cleveland. The 19-year-old was inserted into the lineup after 2B Ian Kinsler succumbed to a stiff back.

2. Kansas City's Tony Abreu has had quite a productive month since being promoted from Triple-A Omaha. He collected three hits and three RBIs on Sunday.

3. Beltre is 8-for-27 with two homers in his career versus Chen.