Kansas City @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2011 ) Kansas City 5, Chi. White Sox 1

THE STORY: The Chicago White Sox look to overcome an ominous start to a pivotal homestand as they entertain the Kansas City Royals in the resumption of their weekend series Saturday. The White Sox send veteran righty Jake Peavy to the hill against streaking Royals counterpart Luke Hochevar.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, CS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luke Hochevar (8-8, 4.79 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Jake Peavy (5-5, 4.63).

It has taken several years, but Hochevar is finally showing the potential that prompted the Royals to make him the first overall pick in the 2006 draft. The 27-year-old has been sensational since the All-Star break, going 3-0 with a 2.41 ERA in five starts to even his record for the season. He is 3-3 lifetime against the White Sox with a 4.07 ERA over nine appearances (eight starts). Peavy ended a long string of futility in his last outing, throwing eight innings of three-hit ball in a 7-0 victory over Minnesota. Prior to that, Peavy had gone 0-4 over six starts while lasting past the sixth inning only once in that span. The 30-year-old has made eight career starts against the Royals, going 4-4 with a 4.44 ERA.

ABOUT THE ROYALS (50-69): The emergence of Melky Cabrera as an offensive power has been a bright spot for Kansas City this season. The 26-year-old struggled mightily with Atlanta in 2010, but looks like a brand new man in his first season with the Royals. His three-run homer provided some insurance in Friday's 5-1 win, and gave him eight RBIs over his last three games. He is in the top 20 in the American League with 70 RBIs on the season, only three shy of his career high set in 2007 with the New York Yankees. The Royals are hitting a collective .260 against Peavy. Billy Butler has homered three times against him in 15 at-bats.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (58-60): If Chicago plans to remain in the hunt with Detroit and Cleveland in the American League Central, it will need to fare much better in its own park. Friday's loss dropped the White Sox to 24-33 at home, the worst such mark in the American League. Chicago had just come off a wildly successful 6-1 road swing, only to see its momentum abruptly halted by the Royals. The White Sox have struggled against Hochevar, with the present roster hitting only .231 against him. Paul Konerko and Gordon Beckham have both taken him deep, while Alexei Ramirez is 7-for-15 lifetime.

FINAL PITCH: Cabrera's 2-for-5 performance Friday improved him to .329 lifetime against the White Sox, with eight home runs and 27 RBIs in 40 career games.