Davis Martin (9-3, 3.18 ERA) draws Michael Wacha (5-5, 3.48 ERA) in a 3:10 PM CT afternoon game at Guaranteed Rate Field — a pitching matchup that looks reasonable on paper until you factor in what happened 18 hours ago: a 10-run third inning, 5 home runs, and a 22-run final score with Kansas City on the wrong end of it.
Martin has been one of the more under-the-radar success stories in the AL this season. He works fast, commands the zone, and came off a 6-inning, 1-run outing against Detroit in his last start. He's at home in a park where Chicago has gone 27-13 — tied for the best home record in baseball. Wacha has been Kansas City's most reliable rotation piece all year; his last start was 7 innings of 1-run ball against Tampa Bay. But steady hasn't been enough for a Royals lineup that keeps getting shorter.
Kansas City has dropped 3 of their last 5, and 2 of those losses weren't close: a 13-2 drubbing in Tampa Bay followed by last night's 22-1 embarrassment in Chicago. Friday's blowout featured Tristan Peters going off for a grand slam and 6 RBIs, Jacob Gonzalez adding 5 more, and a rookie starter who had been in Triple-A Charlotte that morning tossing 6 solid innings against them. The White Sox are 42-38 and leading the AL Central. The Royals are 34-49 and sinking. This is not a balanced series.
- 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 Kansas City injury report makes everything harder. Vinnie Pasquantino just had hamate bone surgery and is out 4-6 weeks. Maikel Garcia is on the IL with a hand strain. Cole Ragans — one of their best starters — is likely looking at elbow surgery with a recovery timeline that's still unclear. This is a road-weary, short-handed club asking Wacha to hold the fort against one of baseball's hottest home teams. First pitch is at 3:10 PM CT.