Chicago @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 1, Kansas City 3
Two days ago, the Chicago White Sox seemed unbeatable. Now they're hoping to avoid their longest losing streak in more than two months.
The White Sox will attempt to halt a two-game skid on Tuesday when they take on the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Chicago had its 11-game winning streak snapped by the crosstown-rival Cubs on Sunday. On Monday, the White Sox were unable to extend their six-game run on the road, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Royals in the opener of their three-game series.
Anthony Lerew notched his first major league victory, limiting Chicago to one run - a solo homer by Carlos Quentin - and three hits in six innings. The White Sox managed just one more hit the rest of the way, falling to 15-3 in their last 18 games.
Chicago is in danger of dropping its third in a row, which would be its longest slide since losing four straight from April 15-18.
Getting the chance to put the White Sox back in the win column is Gavin Floyd, who would benefit from some support from his offense.
The 27-year old Floyd is just 1-5 in his last 10 starts but has been extremely effective of late. Despite being 0-1, he has allowed just three runs in 29 innings over his last four outings, striking out 31 while walking just seven.
But the right-hander has received no more than two runs of support in any of the four games and an average of 2.80 this season - the second-lowest amount in the American League.
On Thursday, Floyd surrendered two hits in seven scoreless innings, walking one and striking out a season high-tying nine. But the best he could manage was a no-decision in Chicago's 2-0 triumph over the Atlanta Braves.
Floyd has had very little success against the Royals over his career, posting a 1-7 record and 5.53 ERA in 10 games - including one relief appearance. At Kauffman Stadium, he is 0-4 with a 7.53 ERA in five starts.
This season, Floyd is 0-2 with an 8.03 ERA vs. Kansas City, surrendering 11 runs and 23 hits in just 12 1/3 innings.
The Royals, who have won four of five following a five-game skid, will counter with Brian Bannister.
Bannister also has not fared well in this year's series between the AL Central rivals, going 1-1 but allowing 10 runs and 14 hits in nine innings over two outings.
THe 29-year old is 4-5 with a 7.91 ERA in 14 lifetime starts against the White Sox.
Like Floyd, Bannister also has pitched effectively of late, going 6-2 over his last eight starts. On Wednesday, the right-hander outdueled Washington Nationals rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out four over six scoreless frames in a 1-0 victory.
Bannister, who has won four in a row at home, has struggled against several Chicago hitters, however. Quentin is 5-for-10 lifetime against the veteran with two home runs and five RBIs, Alexei Ramirez owns a .412 average (7-for-17) with one homer and nine RBIs, Alex Rios has collected six hits in 11 at-bats (.545) and A.J. Pierzynski has gone 12-for-29 (.414), belted a pair of homers and driven in four runs.
For the Royals, Yuniesky Betancourt and Jose Guillen each have recorded a homer and six RBIs over their careers against Floyd. Guillen went 0-for-3 with a walk on Monday, ending his career-high 21-game hitting streak.