Chicago @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2012 ) Chi. White Sox 0, Kansas City 3

The Chicago White Sox, who enter the final two weeks of the regular season with a two-game lead on the Detroit Tigers, meet the Royals for the final time in 2012 on Thursday in Kansas City. The White Sox will be happy to leave town - they are 6-11 against the Royals this season and also 6-11 in their last 17 games at Kauffman Stadium. Chicago, though, has a pair of hot hitters in Alejandro De Aza and Alex Rios. De Aza, who didn't play Sunday against Detroit after going 0-for-9 in his previous two games, matched a career high with four hits in the White Sox's 3-0 loss Wednesday and is 6-for-9 in his last two games. Rios had three hits Wednesday and is 4-for-7 in his last two. Both players homered in Tuesday's 3-2 victory.

Kansas City's Jeremy Guthrie has turned his season around. He is 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his past eight outings - all Royals' victories. Guthrie was traded after going 3-9 with the Colorado Rockies to Kansas City on July 20 and promptly lost his first three starts. He has not lost since, and is especially tough at home where he owns a 1.22 ERA in his past five outings. Guthrie will oppose White Sox lefty Francisco Liriano, who will make his second straight start after returning to the rotation from the bullpen.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, CS Chicago, FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Francisco Liriano (6-11, 5.24 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (4-3, 3.13)

Liriano was 2-1 with a 5.09 ERA in his first eight starts with Chicago before he was sent to the bullpen, where he allowed all three batters to reach and was charged with two runs in a 5-3 loss to Detroit on Sept. 11. Liriano bounced back when he returned to the rotation and allowed two runs, one hit and struck out nine in seven innings against his former team - the Minnesota Twins - in a 5-3 victory on Saturday. Liriano, who was dealt to Chicago at the trade deadline, is 6-5 in 15 appearances (13 starts) against the Royals. Billy Butler is hitting .217 against Liriano.

Guthrie has recorded back-to-back no-decisions but allowed only two runs in 16 innings during that span, including six shutout frames against the White Sox in the Royals' 2-1 victory Sept. 9. He has faced playoff contenders in four straight games and in eight of his last nine outings. Guthrie is 4-5 with a 3.35 ERA in 15 appearances (13 starts) against Chicago. The White Sox' roster is hitting .234 against him. Paul Konerko is hitting .257, but three of his nine hits against Guthrie are homers. Adam Dunn is 1-for-13 with seven strikeouts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kansas City's Billy Butler added to his career-high RBI total with his 98th Wednesday. The last Royal to drive in 100 runs was Carlos Beltran in 2003, who finished with 100.

2. Konerko is 4-for-21 over his last six games.

3. The White Sox visit the Los Angeles Angels for a three-game series this weekend before coming home for seven games - three against Cleveland and four versus Tampa Bay.