Anthony Kay (6-2, 4.24 ERA) gets the ball for Chicago in Sunday's series finale at Guaranteed Rate Field, first pitch at 1:10 PM CT. He draws Luinder Avila (3-3, 5.06 ERA), a guy who's in Kansas City's rotation largely by default after injuries wiped out most of the alternatives. The White Sox lined up their best starter for the sweep attempt.
Kay's last outing was his best in weeks — 6 innings, 0 earned runs, 8 strikeouts against Cleveland on 101 pitches. He got knocked around earlier in the season while trying to rediscover his cutter, but the 6-2 record reflects a pitcher who's kept Chicago in games consistently since figuring it out. Avila won his last start too, holding Tampa Bay to 1 run over 5 innings, but context matters: Cole Ragans is done for months after elbow surgery, Kris Bubic is on the IL with elbow soreness, Stephen Kolek is day-to-day, and Alec Marsh is on the 60-day. Avila is pitching in this rotation because the alternatives are gone.
Friday's 22-1 rout was the most runs the White Sox have scored in a single game since 1970. Tristan Peters hit a grand slam and drove in 6, Jacob Gonzalez and Miguel Vargas each had 5 RBIs, and Chicago sent 23 men to the plate and hit 5 home runs. Then Saturday it was a 2-1 walk-off in the 9th — Gonzalez again with the series-winning RBI single. That clinched Chicago's 10th consecutive home series win, the first time in franchise history they've done that. Carter Jensen's 18-game hitting streak — the longest active in the majors — is the lone bright spot in a Kansas City lineup that has scored exactly 1 run in each of the last 2 games.
- 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 Royals come in at 34-50 and their roster is genuinely depleted. Vinnie Pasquantino had hamate surgery earlier this month and is out 4-6 weeks, Maikel Garcia is on the IL with a hand strain, Kyle Isbel has a Grade 3 plantar fascia tear, and Jonathan India hasn't played in weeks. Kansas City is 2-4 against Chicago this season. The White Sox are 27-13 at home, tied with Tampa Bay for the best home record in baseball. Avila is walking into a buzzsaw of an environment trying to stop an offense that has been statistically one of the best in the AL when playing at Guaranteed Rate Field.