Kansas City Royals outfielder John Rave still remembers the day he walked into a local Minnesota steakhouse with his teammates. As a rookie, Rave was excited for the team-bonding experience. It was one of the perks often associated with being in the big leagues.

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals host the Texas Rangers, leading the series 2-1. Kansas City is 35-30 in home games and 65-62 overall. The Royals have the eighth-ranked team batting average in the AL at .246.

If the Texas Rangers are to manage a split of their four-game series in Kansas City, Patrick Corbin likely must end his recent struggles. Following a much-needed victory, the Rangers will aim for their first two-game winning streak in more than two weeks as they face former teammate Michael Lorenzen on Thursday.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Mark Canha returned from an injury-rehabilitation assignment on Monday and was then designated for assignment, the club announced before its series-opening home game against the Texas Rangers. Canha, 36, was recovering from a left-elbow injury. He had been on the injury list since June 8, missing 32 major-league games.

The Kansas City Royals are surging right now in the win-loss column, but that doesn't mean every single player is giving their best individual performances. The offseason is dangerously close and just as every game could decide the Royals postseason ...

With the victory, the Royals (64-61) are now also 2 1/2 games ahead of the Rangers (62-64). Both are chasing the New York Yankees (67-57) for the third and final AL wild-card spot in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

The Kansas City Royals offense has been clicking of late, and recent additions have taken away his playing time.

Erceg uses Vodka Rigatoni as a litmus test when trying a new Italian restaurant. He is a self-described fan of rigatoni, so get that right and Erceg will be sold. And to Erceg, Garozzo’s nails it.