Kansas City @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2012 ) Chi. White Sox 2, Kansas City 5
If the Chicago White Sox hope to at least maintain their lead in the American League Central, they'll have to find a way to defeat the Kansas City Royals as the division rivals begin their three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday. Chicago enters the weekend with a one-game lead in the Central over Detroit, which is visiting the Los Angeles Angels. The White Sox have had all kinds of trouble with the Royals this season, winning only four of their 12 meetings.
Losers of seven of its last 10 overall contests, Chicago is 23-6 over its last 29 home games, with two of the losses coming in a three-game series against Kansas City from Aug. 6-8. The White Sox, who are 2-1 on their 10-game homestand, also dropped two of three to the Royals at home in May. Kansas City is beginning a six-game road trip after going 5-5 during a 10-game homestand.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN (Kansas City), WCIU (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luis Mendoza (7-9, 4.48 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Francisco Liriano (5-11, 5.11)
Mendoza has worked five innings or less in each of his last three starts, going 0-1 during that span. The 28-year-old Mexican allowed two runs over five frames against Minnesota on Sunday but settled for a no-decision. Mendoza improved to 4-3 lifetime versus the White Sox on Aug. 17, when he yielded two runs and four hits in seven innings.
Liriano will be making his eighth start since being acquired from Minnesota on July 28. The 28-year-old Dominican, who is 2-1 with Chicago, surrendered three runs on four hits and seven walks over four innings in a loss at Detroit on Saturday. Liriano is 6-5 with a 4.21 ERA in 15 career games - 12 starts - against Kansas City.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mendoza is 2-2 with a 2.96 ERA in four games, including one relief appearance, against Chicago this year.
2. White Sox OF Alex Rios has registered six career multi-homer performances, three of which have come this season.
3. Kansas City has recorded the second-most one-run victories in the AL, going 23-19 in such contests.