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

Kings of Kauffman – How do you explain the White Sox struggles at home against the Royals at home but being successful largely in Kansas City?

Matt Adams– Mostly chance. This team, as is the case with most, go through hot and cold streaks.  It just so happens that some poor games have been strung together against the Royals.  It would be nice to have some extra consistency against a less experienced team but the White Sox haven’t exactly been able to turn that into an advantage.

Jeremy Guthrie will face the White Sox for the second time in just over a week on Sunday at the K. Photo Credit: Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE

KOK – What is the team’s plan for Chris Sale at this point of the season? 

MA – The idea at this point is to keep him fresh through the year so that he’ll be primed for a playoff run.  It’s tricky with a guy who hasn’t even approached this sort of workload before.  You want to protect him but at the same time you don’t want to miss out on the value that he provides.  Sale is arguably this team’s ace, and you feel much better about winning games when your ace is on the mound.

KOK – On a scale to 1-10 how surprised are White Sox fans with Robin Ventura at this point?

MA – I’d put it at maybe a 2.  Nobody knew what to expect out of Robin before the season started so there isn’t much to be surprised about.  Everybody is psyched about the job he’s done.  The team is in first and the players appear to be pretty relaxed out there.  There are some gripes about his x’s and o’s here and there but overall he’s got the fans feeling good.  A manager doesn’t really need to change his style for fan opinion of him to change.  All that has to shift is the team’s record and the fan opinion will go along with it.

KOK – What’s happened in the brief time since these two teams met last week at the Cell?

MA – Since last we met there was a bit of a moral victory to accompany some big wins.  The White Sox had been notoriously bad playing in the Rogers Center and managed 3 of 4 there.  Again, likely it was just a timing thing along but feels good to not have that hanging over the team.  Paul Konerko has missed the entire week after hitting the 7-day DL from a concussion inadvertently delivered by Jarrod Dyson.  He’s available for the series for the first time since the two teams last played.

For the other side of the conversation check out Southside Showdown

Probable Starters this weekend –

Friday 7:10 pm, Chris Sale (14-3, 2.60) v. Luis Mendoza (6-8, 4.37)

Saturday 6:10 pm, Jake Peavy (9-8, 3.04) v. Bruce Chen (8-10, 5.56)

Sunday 1:10 pm, Jose Quintana (5-2, 2.77) v. Jeremy Guthrie (5-12, 5.75)