Rangers elite rotation aims to shut down former Texas great's superstar son

The Rangers are riding high coming off a series sweep against the Chicago White Sox
over the weekend. The team has climbed back to .500 on the season at 36-36.

Next up is a three-game set with the offensively challenged Kansas City Royals, who are led by the son of former Texas pitcher Bobby Witt and perennial All-Star Bobby Witt Jr.

Bobby Witt Jr. will face a Texas Rangers team with the best team ERA in the American League

Witt Jr. has become a bona fide superstar over the last few seasons with a rare combination of speed, power and plus defense at shortstop. Still, he has struggled mightily against the Rangers in his young career. And it will be a tough task for him facing what has been one of the best pitching staffs in all of Major League Baseball this season.

The Rangers top the American League and second overall with a 3.14 team ERA, led by All-Star candidates Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Tyler Mahle. The staff stayed hot this weekend, holding the White Sox to just six runs over the three-game series using primarily bullpen pitchers.

Bobby Witt Jr. has been stymied by the Rangers pitchers so far in his career

Early into Witt's career against his dad's former team, he is hitting just .214 (15-70) with one homer and nine RBIs. It is his lowest batting average versus any opposing team in baseball since he entered the league in 2022.

He has been even worse against the Rangers at Globe Life Field, mustering a paltry .189 average (7-37) with a slash line of .189/.211/.270. These are not Bobby Witt Jr. type numbers when you compare them to his impressive career slash of .286/.336/.500.

When Witt Jr. and the Royals arrive in Arlington on Tuesday for a three-game series, he will have to solve the stifling riddle that has been the Rangers' staff that will send Jack Leiter, Patrick Corbin and a third starter yet to be determined to the bump. Texas is also red hot, having won 7 of their last 8 games.