White Sox at Royals
The Chicago White Sox put on a power display in the opener of the five-game series and look to follow up with another solid performance when they visit the Kansas City Royals on Friday. The White Sox belted five homers - two by Matt Davidson - while notching a 6-3 victory on Thursday.
Welington Castillo, Yoan Moncada and Trayce Thompson also went deep as Chicago won for just the third time in 17 games. Davidson has hit seven homers this season, with five coming at Kauffman Stadium. The White Sox are saddled with a 6-16 record, but half of the victories have occurred in Kansas City, where they swept a season-opening two-game series. Kansas City has dropped 13 of its last 15 games and owns the American League's worst record at 5-18, including a 1-10 mark at home.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (0-2, 1.50 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (0-3, 5.26)
Lopez is winless in four starts despite allowing just four earned runs and 12 hits over 24 innings. The 24-year-old hasn't yielded more than four hits in any of his outings, but he has experienced bouts of wildness by issuing four or more walks in three of his turns. Lopez is 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA in three career starts against the Royals and has served up two homers to Mike Moustakas and one to Alcides Escobar.
Duffy was roughed up by Detroit in his last outing as he gave up six runs and 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings. The 29-year-old's season began on a bad note when Chicago's Jose Abreu, Davidson and Tim Anderson all went deep off him in the fourth inning on Opening Day as he allowed five runs and seven hits in four frames. Duffy is 7-6 with a 4.47 ERA in 21 career appearances (19 starts) against the White Sox and has struggled with Abreu (16-for-45, two homers), Yolmer Sanchez (10-for-26) and Anderson (8-for-22, one homer).
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing will serve as manager on Friday and Saturday as Rich Renteria will be away from the team due to the death of his mother on Wednesday.
2. Moustakas was 2-for-5 in the series opener and has recorded at least one hit in 16 of his last 17 games.
3. Abreu (flu-like symptoms) is expected back in the lineup on Friday after sitting out the series opener.