Series Preview Royals at White Sox September 7-9

Kansas City (61-76) returns to the road after a 5-5 homestand against the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers. The Royals return to U.S. Cellular Field on the Southside of Chicago to face the division leading White Sox (74-62).

Can Jeremy Guthrie and the Royals continue their success against the division leading White Sox this weekend in Chicago? Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-US PRESSWIRE

When Last We Saw …

Last month the Royals swept the White Sox at the K when they played August 17-19^th by the scores of 4-2, 9-4 and 5-2. That sweep concluded a 5-1 homestand for Kansas City before an east coast road trip to St. Pete and Boston. Jeremy Guthrie’s near no-hitter on the Sunday game of that series was the last time the teams met.

Season Series …

KC is 8-4 this season against the Chicago including 5-1 over the last two meeting winning five straight. The teams split the first two series three games apiece before the recent run of success for the boys in blue.

Last time out Luis Mendoza opened the series going seven innings allowing two runs on four hits striking out six. Greg Holland worked around two hits in the ninth before notching his fifth save of the season. Tied in the seventh inning at two, Salvador Perez’s two-run double plated Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar for a 4-2 win.

Bruce Chen and Jake Peavy matched up in the second game of the series which finished in a 9-4 Royals win. Chen went six innings with four relievers coming in after him on what was a soggy game at Kauffman. Escobar went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, Eric Hosmer and Moustakas hit homeruns with Billy Butler driving in three runs.

In the series finale it appeared that Kansas City was going to cruise to an easy win while making history in the process. Guthrie went 7.2 innings striking out five but allowing two hits but it was the first that caused controversy, the official scorer ruled an Escobar an error (later overruled by MLB).

Chicago tied the game at two chasing Guthrie from the game, Tim Collins come in trying to preserve the lead which he was unable to. With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth Butler walked to leadoff with Jarrod Dyson coming in to pinch run. Perez came up with his second clutch hit of the weekend scoring Dyson, Johnny Giavotella and Lorenzo Cain padded the lead by the time the Royals finished the inning.

5/11 – Royals 0 @ White Sox 5
5/12 – Royals 5 @ White Sox 0
5/13 – Royals 9 @ White Sox 1
7/13 – White Sox 9 @ Royals 8 F/14
7/14 – White Sox 3 @ Royals 6
7/15 – White Sox 2 @ Royals 1
8/6 – Royals 2 @ White Sox 4
8/7 – Royals 5 @ White Sox 2
8/8 – Royals 2 @ White Sox 1
8/17 – White Sox 2 @ Royals 4
8/18 – White Sox 4 @ Royals 9
8/19 – White Sox 2 @ Royals 5

Probable Pitching Match-Ups (All Times Central):

Friday, 7:10 pm – Luis Mendoza (7-9, 4.48) v. Francisco Liriano (2-1, 4.54*)
– Against Chicago this season Mendoza is 2-2 with a 2.96 ERA
– In his last time out Luis had a no-decision against Minnesota over the weekend
– Liriano has one win against the Royals this season which came as a member of the Twins
Saturday, 3:05 pm – Bruce Chen (10-11, 5.28) v. Chris Sale (15-6, 2.93)
– Chen is coming off a loss against the Rangers on Labor Day allowing six runs in six innings
– Over his last four starts at the Cell, Bruce is 4-0 with a 1,35 ERA
– Sale has been roughed up by KC in 2012 while he’s rolled everyone else, in his last outing he gave up four runs on nine hits taking the loss
Sunday, 1:10 pm – Jeremy Guthrie (4-3, 3.70*) v. Hector Santiago (3-1, 3.71)
– On August 8 Guthrie went eight innings striking out six allowing just five hits
– Tuesday Jeremy picked up the lone win in the Texas series going seven striking out five
– Santiago made his MLB debut against the Royals on July 6, 2011 and is coming off a win versus the Twins this week

* – Stats since joining the Royals/White Sox