Royals at White Sox
The Chicago White Sox attempt to complete their first full series sweep of the season when they host the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday for the finale of their three-game set. Chicago, which swept an abbreviated two-game series versus Detroit last month, posted a pair of one-run triumphs over the Royals on Tuesday.
After Yolmer Sanchez delivered a walk-off RBI single to give the White Sox a 2-1 win in the completion of Monday's suspended contest, Lucas Giolito followed up his first career shutout with an eight-inning performance that featured a personal best-tying 10 strikeouts after serving up a three-run homer in the opening frame of a 4-3 victory. Leury Garcia recorded three hits, matching the total from his previous six games, and drove in a run while Charles Tilson went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Chicago, which has won four of its last six at home. Alex Gordon belted his first homer since May 10 for Kansas City, which struck out 12 times in losing for the ninth time in 12 contests. Whit Merrifield recorded one of the White Sox's three hits after having his five-game streak halted in the suspended game.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Glenn Sparkman (1-1, 2.92 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (3-5, 6.03)
Sparkman is expected to make his second start of the season and first since May 1, when he scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings in a victory over Tampa Bay. The 27-year-old Texan last pitched Saturday, when he gave up one run on two hits and three walks over 3 1/3 frames of relief against the New York Yankees. Sparkman has made three relief appearances against Chicago in his career, allowing one run and five hits over five innings.
After allowing one earned run in each of his previous two starts, Lopez was battered for eight runs and seven hits - three homers - over 3 2/3 innings in a loss at Minnesota on Friday. The 25-year-old Dominican has surrendered at least six runs in three of his last four setbacks and fewer than two earned in each of his three victories this year. One of those wins came at home against Kansas City on April 16, when he gave up one runs and five hits over six frames to improve to 3-2 with a 4.73 ERA in nine career starts versus the Royals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tilson (.303) has hit safely in 16 of his 22 games this season.
2. Chicago RHP Ryan Burr (elbow) celebrated his 25th birthday Tuesday by taking a trip to the 10-day injured list, which prompted the team to recall RHP Jose Ruiz from Triple-A Charlotte.
3. Kansas City 1B Lucas Duda (back) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday and went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and a walk while serving as the designated hitter.