White Sox at Royals
The Kansas City Royals may not be contending for a playoff berth, but you wouldn't know it by how they've played since returning from the All-Star break. Kansas City looks to improve to 4-1 on its seven-game homestand when it hosts the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday for the second contest of their four-game series.
Despite taking two of three from Detroit in their first set after the break, the Royals were nearly 30 games under .500 entering Monday's opener versus Chicago. The club continued its solid play, however, as Nicky Lopez recorded two hits and two RBIs while Hunter Dozier and Cheslor Cuthbert both went 2-for-4 and drove in a run in a 5-2 triumph. All-Star Whit Merrifield, who has yet to go back-to-back contests without a hit, singled on Monday to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. James McCann belted a solo homer for the White Sox, who have begun their 10-game road trip with four losses and have dropped six of seven overall.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Cease (1-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Royals RH Glenn Sparkman (2-5, 5.18)
Cease will be making his second start after defeating Detroit in his major-league debut on July 3. The 23-year-old native of Georgia threw 101 pitches over five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks with six strikeouts. Prior to being recalled, Cease went 5-2 with a 4.48 ERA and 73 strikeouts over 68 1/3 frames in 15 turns this season for Triple-A Charlotte.
Sparkman has made eight consecutive starts after making eight of his first nine appearances this year out of the bullpen. The 27-year-old Texan has gone 0-2 while surrendering 17 runs and 25 hits over 14 2/3 innings in his last three turns, all on the road. Sparkman is 0-1 with a 4.97 ERA in three relief appearances and two starts - both of which occurred this season - against Chicago in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cuthbert has registered five of his 21 RBIs on the season in his last four games.
2. Chicago OF Jon Jay has hit safely in 11 of his 14 contests this year and is riding a five-game streak during which he has gone 10-for-20 after Monday's 4-for-4 performance.
3. Kansas City traded C Martin Maldonado to the Chicago Cubs for LHP Mike Montgomery, and recalled Scott Barlow from Triple-A Omaha on Monday after trading fellow RHP Homer Bailey to Oakland the previous day.