White Sox at Royals
After tying the major-league record with six home runs in an Opening Day win over the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox will try to keep the power surge going when the series continues Saturday in Kansas City. Chicago’s 14 runs on Opening Day were five more than any other team put on the board Thursday.
The Royals’ bullpen benefited from a day off Friday after Kansas City used nine pitchers Thursday - the most for a nine-inning game on Opening Day in modern MLB history (since 1908). Kansas City squandered an early 4-0 lead as the White Sox scored all 14 runs in the span of five innings. Matt Davidson clubbed three home runs and Tim Anderson hit two more for the White Sox in a 14-7 win in the opener, and the duo is a combined 8-for-22 with two doubles and a homer against scheduled starter Ian Kennedy. Jose Abreu had the other blast for Chicago, which hit six homers for only the 16th time in club history.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (2017: 3-3, 2.38 ERA) vs. Royals RH Ian Kennedy (2017: 5-13, 5.38)
Giolito was excellent in seven starts with the White Sox at the end of last season and followed it up with an outstanding spring. He was dominant against the Royals in two meetings last year, going 1-0 and allowing two runs over 13 1/3 innings. The 23-year-old has never won a road start - he’s 0-1 with a 3.78 ERA in three career outings away from home.
Kennedy is looking to bounce back from his worst full season in the majors. The 33-year-old struggled to miss bats last year and gave up a career-high 34 home runs, including six in four starts against the White Sox, continuing his struggles against the club. Kennedy is 2-3 with a 5.04 ERA in nine career meetings with Chicago.
WALK-OFFS
1. Abreu is 9-for-19 with three homers versus Kennedy.
2. Royals 1B Lucas Duda homered in his first at-bat with the club before finishing 1-for-4.
3. Kansas City C Drew Butera, filling in for injured All-Star Salvador Perez, was 2-for-4 with a double Thursday.