Royals at White Sox
The Kansas City Royals, who dropped 10 in a row before sweeping the Cleveland Indians over the weekend, will try to bring that momentum on the road when they visit the Chicago White Sox for the opener of a 10-game trip on Monday. The Royals opened the season by taking two from the White Sox before their losing streak began.
Kansas City won the first two against Cleveland by a combined score of 11-1 but looked like its luck was running out when a three-run lead slipped away and the Indians tied the game in the seventh inning on Sunday. The Royals used some speed to earn the win as Terrance Gore came on as a pinch runner, stole second, moved to third on an overthrow and raced home on Hunter Dozier's walk-off single. The White Sox endured a five-game drought to heading to New York over the weekend before taking two of three from the Yankees as major league batting leader Tim Anderson (.429) slugged his first career grand slam in the rubber match on Sunday. Royals right-hander Heath Fillmyer will try to hold Anderson in check on Monday while righty Ervin Santana toes the rubber for Chicago.
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Heath Fillmyer (0-0, 15.00 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Ervin Santana (0-1, 17.18)
Fillmyer made his first start of the season against Seattle on Wednesday and was lit up for five runs and six hits in three innings. The 24-year-old walked two and struck out two in the abbreviated outing but got some support from the offense and ended up not factoring in the decision. Fillmyer made two appearances - one start - against Chicago during his 2018 rookie campaign and was knocked around for a total of seven runs on 10 hits - four homers - in 5 1/3 innings.
Santana made his season debut against Tampa Bay on Tuesday and was ripped for seven runs on seven hits - three homers - in 3 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. The 36-year-old missed most of last season due to an injured middle finger on his pitching hand and was not crisp with his command while issuing three walks against the Rays. Santana made one of his five starts last season against Kansas City and served up three runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox RHP and former Royal Kelvin Herrera has yet to walk a batter in seven appearances spanning seven innings.
2. Royals SS Adalberto Mondesi hit safely in each of the last seven games and drove in six runs in that span.
3. Kansas City CF Billy Hamilton (knee) sat out the last three games and is day-to-day.