What if I told you there was a team starting a pitcher today and that team was 1-12 during that pitcher's last 13 starts, yet that team still was favored? 

It's true. That team is the Rangers, who have the third-worst record in baseball and are 5-21 during their past 26 games. 

The Royals aren't playing well either, losing 14 of their past 18 games. But I'll take the Royals at a plus price in a pitching matchup of lefty Mike Minor versus Dane Dunning. 

Minor was good in 2017. He also was good in 2019. This is an odd number year so I thought Minor would return to form in 2021. It hasn't happened yet. Minor is 6-4, but with a 4.48 ERA. However, he's pitched his best on the road where he's 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA. 

The Rangers rank 13th out of the 15 American League teams in slugging percentage against lefthanders. They are 11th in batting average versus southpaws. 

Texas hasn't been able to win for Dunning going 1-12 in his past 13 starts. Dunning pitched well at the beginning of the season, but he's 0-4 with a 5.68 ERA during his last seven starts.