Kansas City @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2012 ) Chi. White Sox 2, Kansas City 1

While the Chicago White Sox have surged in recent weeks, keeping themselves a game and a half ahead of Detroit in the American League Central, the Kansas City Royals have been fading, losing 14 of their last 21 games to drop to the bottom of the division and league standings. Kansas City showed signs of life by taking four of six at home last week, and the team did win two of three games at U.S. Cellular Field earlier this season. The clubs have split six head-to-head meetings this year.

Chicago has five players with at least 16 home runs, including 31 from major-league leader Adam Dunn, and also boasts a solid pitching rotation led by All-Star left-hander Chris Sale, who starts Monday. Kansas City owns the fifth-highest batting average in baseball but ranks just 21st in runs, and its pitching staff has struggled mightily, ranking at or near the bottom of the American League in most major categories.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West (Kansas City), WCIU (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luis Mendoza (5-7, 4.32 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Chris Sale (12-3, 2.61)

Mendoza has quietly put together five quality starts in his last six outings, a run that has gone ignored in part because Kansas City is just 3-3 in those contests. One of the right-hander’s hard-luck defeats came against the White Sox on July 15, when he gave up just two runs and four hits in 7 1/3 innings during a 2-1 loss. Mendoza is 3-2 with a 4.26 ERA in six career appearances against Chicago.

Sale remains a strong candidate for AL Cy Young honors despite giving up five runs in each of his last two July starts. He managed a win at Texas on July 27 despite struggling, and he is 7-1 over his last 10 starts, winning four of his last five. Sale split his two starts against the Royals this year, winning on July 15 (8 IP, 10 H, 1 ER) and losing at home on May 12 (5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER).

WALK-OFFS

1. Several Kansas City hitters have had success against Sale, including Alex Gordon (5-for-13, 2 2B, 3 BB), Billy Butler (4-for-11, HR, 3 RBIs) and Chris Getz (4-for-8).

2. The White Sox have won 12 of their last 14 home games, while the Royals have dropped 14 of their last 17 on the road.

3. Dunn is 2-for-4 with a home run and four walks against Mendoza. 1B Paul Konerko, meanwhile, is just 1-for-10 with four strikeouts.