Chicago @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2011 ) Chi. White Sox 6, Kansas City 7

THE STORY: Kansas City looks to extend its season-high winning streak to seven games when it hosts the Chicago White Sox in the third of a four-game series on Saturday evening. The Royals squandered an early three-run lead Friday before prevailing 7-6 on rookie Eric Hosmer's walk-off single in the ninth inning. Chicago, which was officially eliminated from playoff contention Thursday, has lost six straight.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Comcast Sports (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Zach Stewart (2-4, 4.63 ERA) vs. Royals LH Everett Teaford (1-0, 2.73 ERA).

Stewart has run hot and cold since rejoining the starting rotation in late August, getting shelled twice before throwing a one-hit shutout at Minnesota on Sept. 5 (9 K, 0 BB). He lost in his last outing against Cleveland on Sunday, allowing three runs in five innings. Stewart was a loser in his lone career effort against Kansas City despite yielding just two runs in 6 1/3 innings on Aug. 12.

Teaford was pulled out of the bullpen after Danny Duffy reached his innings limit and responded by tossing five scoreless innings at Seattle in his first career start (3 H, 5 K, 1 BB). The rookie had been fairly effective in middle relief during the year, giving up runs in just six of his 23 appearances. Teaford has pitched twice this season against the White Sox, allowing two hits in 1 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.

ABOUT THE ROYALS (66-86): Kansas City, which is 13-5 in its last 18 home games against the White Sox, is attempting to close a disappointing year with a flurry. The young Royals have scored 21 runs in their last three games – and their beleaguered pitching staff, which ranks near the bottom of the American League in most categories, had allowed just eight runs in five contests before yielding six in Friday's victory. Setup man Greg Holland (5-1, 18 holds, 1.91 ERA), the winning pitcher Friday, has been solid.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (73-77): Chicago's current cold streak can be pinned primarily on the starting pitching rotation, which has failed to contribute a single quality start during the current six-game skid. The White Sox have allowed 46 runs over that span and 57 over the team's last eight games. LHP Mark Buehrle, who had anchored the staff much of the year with 18 straight quality starts, has given up 22 runs in his last 15 1/3 innings.

FINAL PITCH: Weekends have been good to the White Sox, who are 11-2 in their last 13 Saturday games.