Royals at White Sox
Chicago continues to chip away at Cleveland’s lead in the American
League Central, getting to within 2 1/2 games after shutting down the
Royals in Friday’s series opener 5-0. Gavin Floyd handcuffed the
visitors, scattering five hits over 7 2/3 shutout innings as the White
Sox worked out of two bases-loaded jams without incident. Chicago moved
Chris Sale into Saturday’s starting spot after an MRI on his elbow came
back negative Friday.
Both teams have endured cold streaks this
season, with Chicago losing 11 of 14 before their current three-game win
streak and Kansas City dropping 12 straight last month, including its
first 10 home games. The Royals have again struggled to get quality
pitching, ranking near the bottom of the major leagues in most
categories. The White Sox, meanwhile, have been buoyed excellent
starting pitching, leading the American League in opponent batting
average.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luke Hochevar (2-3, 9.00 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Chris Sale (3-1, 2.73)
The
top overall pick in the 2006 draft, Hochevar has been an absolute
disaster this month, allowing 16 earned runs over 6 1/3 innings in his
two May starts. He was a little better in April, with one bad outing
against Cleveland (four innings, seven runs) cancelling out three solid
efforts (17 2/3 innings, five runs). Hochevar is 3-4 with a 4.40 ERA in
nine lifetime starts against Chicago.
Sale was moved back to the
bullpen last week because of concerns about tenderness in his elbow, but
he is back in the rotation, where he had acquitted himself well early
in the season. Sale allowed three runs or fewer in each of his five
starts, pitching into the seventh inning three times. He is 1-2 with a
3.14 ERA in 11 appearances against the Royals, all in relief.
WALK-OFFS
1.
Chicago shortstop Alexei Ramirez is 8-for-17 (.471) against Hochevar
and second baseman Gordon Beckham is 6-for-15 (.400) with a home run,
but the rest of the White Sox are a combined 11-for-77 (.143).
2. Current Royals are a combined 7-for-34 (.206) with 10 strikeouts against Sale. Second baseman Chris Getz is 3-for-5.
3.
Though he leads the majors by a wide margin with 47 strikeouts, White
Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn has already hit as many home runs this
season (11) as he did in 2011.