Gamethread: White Sox at Royals

Happy Sunday, White Sox fans, and Happy Mother’s Day as well!

Today seems like the perfect day to spend time with any mother figure in your life, spread love — and see the Chicago White Sox sweep the Kansas City Royals, of course.

The South Siders are coming off of an outstanding offensive and pitching performance last night after winning, 9-1. Today, they look to get yet another win at Kauffman Stadium.

Just like their last series against the Cincinnati Reds, the White Sox have held the Royals to just one run so far this series. Chicago also owns the best run differential in the game, and is in sole possession of first place in the American League Central at 18-13. Even more impressive, the team's’ starting pitchers scoreless streak is at 25 ⅓ innings going into the game today, and who better to continue that than Lucas Giolito?

Giolito comes into today with a 1-3 record, 1.30 WHIP, and a 4.99 ERA. His last appearance was last Sunday in a loss against the Cleveland Baseball Team, but he did seem to look more like himself after a few shaky starts. Although Giolito allowed some hits early on, he allowed just one run after going 5 ⅓ innings, allowing five hits, and recording eight strikeouts. Hopefully after seeing the amazing performances the rest of the starting rotation has been putting up in the last week, he has the motivation to do so himself.

Good news, the White Sox will be facing a lefty! Bad news, they will be facing Mike Minor, who is the only left-handed starter to have “beaten” the White Sox in the last two seasons. Minor faced the White Sox in an early April game at Guaranteed Rate Field, and had a solid but short outing, pitching four innings, allowing four hits and just one earned run. The Royals ended up winning that game, 4-3, in extra innings. In Minor’s last start, against Cleveland, he also had a solid outing going 5 ⅓ innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs. His outings have been shorter lately, so the key will be jumping on him early like the team was able to do against young lefty Daniel Lynch yesterday.

Here are the starting lineups for today:

Tony La Russa continues experimenting with the lineup, and specifically, the outfield. It seems that yesterday's lineup was successful right off the bat, literally, so we will see almost the same group today, but Yasmani Grandal and Yermín Mercedes will switch spots in the order. Tim Anderson will lead it off followed by Nick Madrigal, with both been making great contact lately. Yoán Moncada is also back, so let's see what the international pop sensation can do today from the third spot. Andrew Vaughn has been in left field more consistently, as he still looks for his first major league home run after a few close calls yesterday. Danny Mendick will sit at the bottom of the order after surely proving himself as a hitter and fielder last night, getting the only home run of the game in the first inning and making some solid plays in right field.

Game time is at 1:10 p.m. CT and will be televised on NBCSCHI. Make sure to listen in at ESPN 1000 if you find yourself busy with Mother’s Day festivities. My favorite SSS writer, Ashley Sanders, is on with your postgame Six Pack.

Once again, get your broomsticks ready!