Kansas City @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 30, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 6, Kansas City 7
A pair of surging clubs meet on Friday when the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals open a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago has won five straight and is coming off a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The White Sox allowed only five runs in the series against the Angels and the strong pitching performance was capped by John Danks, who tossed a two-hitter for his first career shutout on Thursday.
Danks had a no-hitter for six innings and made a sacrifice fly by Paul Konerko in the first inning stand up the rest of the way.
About a month ago, the White Sox resembled a soap opera disguised as a baseball team, with manager Ozzie Guillen and general manager Ken Williams barely speaking to each other - if it all. But things seem to be smoothed over, at least for now, as the White Sox have gone on one of the best runs of any team this season.
Chicago is 22-5 in its last 27 games and the surge has put the White Sox just a half-game behind the Detroit Tigers for the lead in the American League Central Division. The Minnesota Twins are two games back.
Looking to help the White Sox continue their winning ways will be starter Mark Buehrle.
Buehrle (7-7, 4.53 ERA) is 4-1 in his last five starts and has not allowed more than three runs while going at least six innings during that span. The left-hander has had success against the Royals in his career but not this season, losing both his starts against the Royals in Kansas City.
In 45 games against the Royals, including 43 starts, Buehrle is 20-11 with an ERA of 3.65.
Kansas City has won series from the St. Louis Cardinals, White Sox, Angels and Seattle Mariners leading up to its visit to Chicago. The Royals are 5-1 on a nine-game road trip heading into the All -Star break.
Bruce Chen (5-2, 3.51) gets the assignment of trying to cool off the White Sox and will be looking to win his third straight start.
Chen has appeared in eight games against Chicago in his career, including three starts, and is 0-2 with a 4.94 ERA. In his last outing, Chen allowed one run and two hits in 7 1/3 innings against the Angels.
If Chen can keep things close, he can turn it over to a bullpen that has been very sharp of late.
Closer Joakim Soria has converted 18 straight save opportunities and has a 1.25 ERA in his last 21 appearances. The Royals' lone selection to the American League All-Star team, Soria leads the majors with 25 saves.
Reliever Kyle Farnsworth has allowed three earned runs in 27 innings in his last 20 outings and opponents are hitting .174 against him in that span.