White Sox at Royals
The Chicago White Sox aim for their third straight series win over the host Kansas City Royals when the teams cap a three-game set Sunday afternoon. The White Sox have taken seven of the last nine meetings between the American Central division foes after riding the arm of Lucas Giolito to a 2-0 victory Saturday.
Giolito struck out 11 in 7 2/3 scoreless innings and Eloy Jimenez provided all the offense with a two-run homer in the second as Chicago won for the seventh time in its last 11 overall. The South Siders will try to maintain their recent mastery of the last-place Royals behind right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, while Kansas City looks to steal the rubber game with Glenn Sparkman on the mound Sunday. Sparkman was ejected in the second inning of a start at Chicago on May 29 after hitting White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson with a pitch. The Royals have been held to three or fewer runs six times during their current 1-7 slide.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, WGN-TV (Chicago), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (3-6, 6.62 ERA) vs. Royals RH Glenn Sparkman (1-1, 3.77)
Lopez will be making his fourth start this season against the Royals, going 1-1 with a 5.74 ERA through the first three. He is 0-2 with a 12.83 ERA over his last three outings while giving up six home runs in 13 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old, who is 0-4 with an 8.75 ERA on the road this year, has had his issues in the past with Whit Merrifield (11-for-28) and Jorge Soler (7-for-11).
Sparkman came back six days after his ejection in Chicago to spin 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a no-decision against Boston at home. He is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts this year while allowing just nine hits in 13 1/3 frames. The Texas native owns a 7.50 ERA in four career matchups (one start) with the White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox RH Alex Colome improved to 13-for-13 in save chances with a scoreless inning to finish Saturday's game.
2. Merrifield had two of Kansas City's three hits Saturday and owns five multi-hit efforts in his last 10 games.
3. Royals SS Adalberto Mondesi recorded his majors-leading 24th stolen base Saturday.