Kansas City @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2012 ) Kansas City 4, Chi. White Sox 5

The Chicago White Sox solved their problem with the Kansas City Royals. Now they have to figure out what to do about Addison Reed. The White Sox remain in first place in the American League Central by two games over the Detroit Tigers but Reed has made every close game a shaky proposition in the ninth inning lately. Chicago will try to build a bigger lead and stay away from the rookie in the rubber game.

Reed has allowed at least one run in six of his last seven appearances and four in two games against the Royals. A missed play in the outfield snowballed into a two-run inning on Saturday, forcing the White Sox to sweat out the 5-4 win. That win snapped a six-game losing streak to the Royals and set Chicago up to take some momentum into a four-game showdown with the Tigers beginning Monday if it can get by Jeremy Guthrie in the series finale. Kansas City is attempting to influence the playoff race from the outside and will play 11 more games against the White Sox and Tigers.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSKC (Kansas City), CSN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (4-3, 3.70 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Hector Santiago (3-1, 3.71)

Guthrie has been on fire recently, allowing two earned runs or less in five of his last six starts. The veteran right-hander held the Texas Rangers to two runs on five hits over seven innings to earn a win on Tuesday. Guthrie took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Chicago on Aug. 19 before a controversial infield hit broke it up. He ended up charged with two unearned runs on two hits in 7 2/3 innings and did not factor in the decision.

Santiago was plucked out of the bullpen and slotted into the rotation against Minnesota on Monday, when he struck out six and allowed one run on three hits in five innings to pick up the win. The 24-year-old left-hander has made five appearances against the Royals out of the bullpen, striking out three and walking a pair in 4 1/3 hitless frames. Santiago has recorded 57 strikeouts in 53 1/3 total innings in 2012.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox DH Adam Dunn (oblique) has missed the first two games of the series. There is no timetable for his return.

2. Kansas City C Salvador Perez has hit in 13 straight games and got his first career start at DH on Saturday.

3. Chicago 3B Kevin Youkilis could be back on Sunday after flying home for the birth of his child.