Kansas City @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2012 ) Kansas City 7, Chi. White Sox 5

The Kansas City Royals will have an effect on the American League Central race no matter how far down in the standings they are at the moment. The Royals have 12 games left against the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers and have no intention of rolling over quietly while the big boys fight at the top. Kansas City’s win over the White Sox on Friday left Chicago reeling, but a loss by the Tigers kept the White Sox a game up in the division.

The Royals have had Chicago’s number this season, taking six straight and nine of 13 from the division rivals. Lorenzo Cain did the damage in excruciating fashion on Friday, hitting a two-run homer - his second blast of the contest - in the ninth off Addison Reed for a 7-5 victory. The rookie closer may have hit a wall this season, as he has surrendered at least one run in five of his last six appearances. The White Sox have had trouble at the front of games as well, posting only two quality starts in the last two weeks.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Bruce Chen (10-11, 5.28 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Chris Sale (15-6, 2.93)

Chen followed up eight shutout innings in a win over Detroit with a dud against Texas on Monday, surrendering six runs on as many hits in six innings. The veteran lefty served up four home runs in that outing. He was sharper against Chicago on Aug. 18, allowing two runs over six frames to pick up the win. Chen is 5-4 with a 3.67 ERA in 18 career games - 13 starts - against the White Sox and has been particularly effective against Gordon Beckham (2-for-20) and Alexei Ramirez (2-for-24).

Sale has seen his Cy Young candidacy take a big hit of late with losses in three of his last four starts. The 23-year-old left-hander has allowed a total of eight runs on 12 hits over 10 innings in back-to-back setbacks. Sale pitched eight strong innings to beat Kansas City on Aug. 6 but could not find the same magic 11 days later, yielding four runs on nine hits in a loss to the Royals. He has surrendered 12 of his 17 home runs this season in his last eight starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals C Salvador Perez has hit in a career-high 12 straight games, batting .360 (18-for-50) with six extra-base hits in that span.

2. Chicago DH Adam Dunn (oblique) missed Friday’s opener and is day-to-day. The White Sox are also without 3B Kevin Youkilis, who flew home for the birth of his child.

3. Chicago OF Dewayne Wise hit his fourth homer in 23 games since joining Chicago on Friday. The veteran journeyman has a career-high seven blasts this season.