Chicago @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 7, Kansas City 6
John Danks and Zack Greinke are in it for the long haul today, whether they're up for it or not.
Thanks to a doubleheader Saturday night, which was caused by Friday night's rainout, the White Sox and Royals are faced with depleted pitching staffs going into the final game of the series.
It didn't help that both games went extra innings. Kansas City won the opener 6-5 in 11 innings while Chicago won the second game 7-6 in 10 innings. Each team used four pitchers in the first game and three pitchers in the second game.
That's where Danks and Greinke come in. Both will be counted on to pitch deep into the game since neither manager will be able to go to his bullpen in the early innings. So for better or worse, Danks and Greinke are will likely be out there for a while.
Both should be up to the job. Danks has pitched at least seven innings in nine of his last 13 starts.
Even a rocky first inning in his last start against Minnesota didn't stop him from giving his team a chance to win. Danks allowed four runs in the first, including two homers, but held the Twins to one run after that. He gave up five runs and 11 hits in seven innings.
While he hasn't faced the Royals this season, Danks is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his career with 28 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings against Kansas City in his career.
Greinke won't repeat as the American League's Cy Young Award winner, but he's pitched better than his record shows. As was the case last season, a lack of run support and shoddy defense have hurt his numbers, but the right-hander is still having a solid year. He has struck out 139 and walked only 37 in 166 innings while holding hitters to a .255 average.
Greinke has worked at least seven innings nine times in his last 12 starts. He beat Cleveland in his last start without his best stuff, allowing one run and five hits in six innings.
The right-hander defeated the White Sox in his only start against them this season. He gave up one run through seven innings before tiring in the eighth, when he allowed five runs. Greinke is 6-10 with a 4.35 ERA in his career against Chicago.
The White Sox gained a half-game on the Twins in the American League with Saturday's split and trail Minnesota by four games.