The Rangers and Yankees play three in the Bronx Tuesday-Thursday.  New York comes off a four-game split with Tampa Bay.  Texas visits New York fresh off a three-game sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis.  Here is a series preview.

The Rangers are built now and for the future.  The Texas lineup blends veterans Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz, Lance Berkman and David Murphy with youngsters Jurickson Profar and Elvis Andrus.  The Yanks will see old Twin Joe Nathan (Rangers' closer) who has never really had success against New York.  Texas plays good defense and has the ability to bust out big innings.

Player to watch:  Robinson Cano.  Cano isn't cutting it right now in his contract year and a guy who has to carry his team.  The protection in the lineup isn't good, so that is a fair argument to back Cano.  But he has come up many times with runners on base and not delivered.  This is a big series for Cano against solid to great pitching.  He must step-up if the Yanks are to have success.

Pitching match-ups:  Hiroki Kuroda (7-5, 2.78) vs. RHP Yu Darvish (7-3, 2.84) Tuesday night, Andy Pettitte (5-5, 4.20) vs. RHP Justin Grimm (6-5, 5.57) Wednesday night, and Phil Hughes (3-6, 5.09) vs. LHP Derek Holland (5-4, 3.43) Thursday afternoon.

Prediction:  Rangers take two of three.  Texas is a World Series contender and the Yanks are not.  The big reason why is because of the Rangers' balance.  Pitching ace-pitching depth-bullpen-timely hitting.  Texas has the ingredients to make a run again.

By:  Mike Lindsley, "Mid-Day with Mike," 1-4, Yankees pre/post game host on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.  Follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/MikeLSports.  

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