Royals at White Sox
Jorge Soler will get a chance to continue his push for the American League home run crown when his Kansas City Royals take on the host Chicago White Sox in the rubber match of a three-game series Thursday. Soler clubbed his 42nd and 43rd home runs in Wednesday's 8-6 win, pulling him within two of Mike Trout for the AL lead with 16 games to play.
The 27-year-old Soler, who also doubled and singled Wednesday, has seven blasts over his last 12 games and 25 on the road this season. However, Soler is just 1-for-13 with seven strikeouts against Thursday's starter Lucas Giolito. Rookie Eloy Jimenez slugged a grand slam to help Chicago to a 7-3 win in the series opener and had a three-run shot to go along with four RBIs in Wednesday's setback. Teammate Jose Abreu added a two-run homer and leads the AL with 114 RBIs, eight more than Soler.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jorge Lopez (3-7, 6.23 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (14-8, 3.27)
Lopez has been in and out of the rotation all season but certainly earned himself another start after a six-inning gem at Miami on Friday. He held the Marlins scoreless on four hits with five strikeouts and no walks to improve to 3-1 after starting the season 0-6. Yoan Moncada is 3-for-8 with two home runs against Lopez, who has a 6.19 ERA in three career meetings (two starts) with the White Sox.
Giolito is 0-2 over his last three starts despite a respectable 3.79 ERA. He had a no-decision after giving up two runs and just three hits in seven solid frames against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. The 25-year-old is 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA in five starts against the Royals this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox SS Tim Anderson had a pair of hits Wednesday to raise his AL-leading average to .333.
2. Royals 1B Ryan O'Hearn is 3-for-4 with two home runs and two walks in the series.
3. The season series is tied at nine wins apiece entering the 19th and final matchup between the teams.