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“It’s all predicated around our starting pitching,” said
Royals manager Ned Yost, who watched his club spiral from
contention after a disastrous 7-19 record in the month of July.
Kendrys Morales belted a grand slam to spark Kansas City's 7-1
rout on Sunday, just its eighth victory in 23 games since the
All-Star break. Chicago, which bolted to an American League-best
23-10 record to start the season, shares an identical 53-58
record with the Royals and is also 8-15 in the second half.
White Sox left-hander Chris Sale makes his fifth attempt for his
15th win when he opposes right-hander Edinson Volquez.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, FSN Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Chris Sale (14-5, 3.12 ERA) vs.
Royals RH Edinson Vólquez (8-10, 4.99)
Sale's run of hard-luck decisions continued in his last outing,
when he came out on the short end of a 2-1 decision at Detroit
despite striking out 10 and permitting two runs on six hits over
eight innings. He has allowed four runs and 13 hits over 22
innings in his last three starts, but has received a combined
five runs of offensive support. He improved to 8-9 against
Kansas City despite giving up five runs and 11 hits on June 10.
Volquez was rocked for the second straight outing -- both on the
road -- at Tampa Bay on Wednesday, giving up eight runs (seven
earned) and 11 hits, including a pair of homers. He also was
tagged for a pair of home runs while surrendering six runs over
six innings in a loss at Texas on July 29. He does own a 6-3
record and 3.89 record in 13 home starts and has a 2-3 mark with
a 2.89 ERA in seven career outings versus Chicago.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kansas City OF Paulo Orlando is 9-for-16 during a streak of
four straight multiple-hit games.
2. White Sox 1B Jose Abreu has homered three times in his last
four games.
3. Royals OF Lorenzo Cain has one extra-base hit and two RBIs in
nine games since returning from a month on the disabled list.
PREDICTION: White Sox 4, Royals 1
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