Steven Cruz (1-2, 6.26 ERA) draws the start for Kansas City in a spot-start capacity, a direct consequence of a Royals rotation that has been gutted by injury. David Sandlin (1-1, 8.10 ERA) counters for Chicago, recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday after the White Sox needed a fresh arm to open the series. First pitch is at 6:40 PM CT.
Sandlin's MLB track record is rough — he got tagged for 8 earned runs in 4 innings against Minnesota in his last big-league start on June 1, a mess of 8 hits, 4 walks, and 80 pitches that earned him a ticket back to Charlotte. But his 6-start run in Triple-A was genuinely impressive: a 1.57 ERA and 26 strikeouts. The White Sox have seen enough in the minors to believe the June 1 start was noise, not signal. Cruz, meanwhile, is pitching out of his natural role in a rotation depleted enough that Kansas City has few other options.
Kansas City just dropped 2 of their last 3 on the road against Tampa Bay, including a 13-2 thrashing on Thursday. The Royals are 34-48 and in genuine survival mode, hemorrhaging key players while trying to stay competitive in the AL Central. Chicago is at 41-38 — a number that still feels strange given their 60-102 finish last season — and has a chance to take advantage of a vulnerable opponent at home. The White Sox went 2-1 against Cleveland in their last homestand before dropping Wednesday's finale 4-3, so they're not cruising either, but the matchup is clearly in their favor.
- Day-To-DayStephen Kolek SP — Kolek (4-2) took the loss Sunday against the Cardinals, allowing nine runs on nine hits and one walk over 1.2 innings.
- Day-To-DayJavier Vaz 2B — Vaz (fingers) has produced a .238/.304/.262 slash line with zero home runs and three stolen bases in 10 games since being activated from Double-A Northwest Arkansas' 7-day injured list April 22.
- Day-To-DayTyson Guerrero RP — no
- 10-Day-ILMaikel Garcia 3B — The Royals placed Garcia on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to a left hand muscle strain.
- 10-Day-ILVinnie Pasquantino 1B — Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that Pasquantino underwent surgery Sunday to remove a fractured hamate bone in his right hand and will face a recovery timeline of roughly 4-6 weeks, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.
- 10-Day-ILKyle Isbel CF — Isbel has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 tear of a portion of his left plantar fasciitis.
- 15-Day-ILKris Bubic SP — Bubic (elbow) threw a perfect inning while striking out one in Wednesday's rehab start with Triple-A Omaha.
- 15-Day-ILNick Mears RP — Mears (shoulder) received an injection and began playing catch again Monday, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayHagen Smith SP — Smith will be shut down for two weeks after being diagnosed with a left shoulder impingement, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- Day-To-DayTim Elko 1B — no
- Day-To-DayMason Adams RP — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 7-day ilEverson Pereira RF — The White Sox activated Pereira (pectoral) from the 10-day injured list Thursday.
- 10-Day-ILMunetaka Murakami 1B — White Sox manager Will Venable said Sunday that Murakami (hamstring) is increasing the intensity of his hitting and running at about 80 percent intensity, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILNoah Schultz SP — Schultz (knee) struck out four over 2.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Charlotte. He scattered two hits and one walk and also hit two batters.
- 15-Day-ILTyler Gilbert RP — The White Sox placed Gilbert on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left shoulder impingement.
- 60-Day-ILAustin Hays LF — Hays has been pulled off his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte due to a recurrence of left calf soreness, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
The biggest variable heading into this series is Bobby Witt Jr. He has been out since June 18 with a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his right knee, missing 6 games, but manager Matt Quatraro said his hope is that Witt returns this weekend. Witt went through base-running and defensive drills before Friday's opener and told reporters 'Better every day.' If he plays, Kansas City at least has their best player. If he sits, the Royals step into the box without him, without Vinnie Pasquantino (hamate surgery, 4-6 weeks), without Maikel Garcia (hand strain, 10-day IL), and with Cole Ragans likely facing elbow surgery. That is a lot of lineup to lose.
For the White Sox, this is exactly the type of matchup they need to capitalize on if they want to stay above water in the AL Central. They have home field, the better record, and a lineup that should be able to do something against a 6.26-ERA arm making a spot start. The ceiling on this game largely depends on which Sandlin shows up — the guy who went 18 up, 18 down in his MLB debut, or the one who couldn't get out of the fourth inning against Minnesota. The White Sox are betting on the former.