Know Your Enemy: More Royals

I know what you’re thinking: Colleen, we JUST played the Royals! What could have changed since then? Well, I will have you know ... not a lot.

We all knew the Royals position in first place was unsustainable, so I hope Mike Matheny made a mood board of all the nice things people said about him during that month because it might be the last time he hears them. The Royals haven’t won a game since May 2, and we know his days aren’t ACTUALLY numbered considering how forgiving the fans and ownership was of Ned Yost, but it’s nice to imagine Matheny getting canned in July again.

Pitch Happens

Today is a doubleheader making up for a weather-cancelled one from April 10. It probably snowed or something. Anyway, it’s going to be someone from the Royals vs. Lucas Giolito. Giolito is posting a 2-3 record with a 4.54 ERA and 43 strikeouts. The high ERA comes from his disaster outing vs. the Red Sox, but since then he’s had a 3.18 ERA in his last 3 starts. Giolito has always pitched well against the Royals, going 8-2 with a 2.81 career ERA against them.

Later today is going to be Michael Kopech vs. someone else the Royals eventually announce. Kopech’s rolling into his third actual start of the season (second of the seven-inning doubleheader variety). He last started April 25 against the Rangers, striking out 10 over five innings. Kopech’s made relief outings here and there to get his work in and has been looking steady so far.

Saturday is currently-undefeated Carlos Rodón vs. Mike Minor. Rodón has a 5-0 record and 0.58 ERA this season. He’s struck out 44 in 31 innings, against 12 hits and nine walks, which is quite the comeback season so far. Minor, being a lefty, should expect his ERA to climb steadily from 5.75 because it’s well-known around the league that the White Sox and LHP always end up in a mix for balls flying around the park. Minor is still looking for a quality start, anyway, allowing five runs in five innings against the White Sox on Sunday.

Sunday we’re seeing Brady Singer vs. Dylan Cease. Singer started on Tuesday against the Tigers and gave up four runs in 3 ¹⁄₃ . Overall, he has a 1-3 record and 4.18 ERA. Cease, despite having just an OK start on Tuesday, went five innings in the win. He currently has a 2-0 record and 2.80 ERA with 47 strikeouts.

So there it is. Four games in three days for our White Sox. Will the Royals win again, ever? Probably, because it’s a long season. But the White Sox should strive to make it as hard for them as possible, because screw those guys.