The White Sox are heading south to face the Triple-A team known as the Kansas City Royals. Lead by baseball super genius Mike Matheny, the third place Royals are limping to the end of the season and aren’t even on the board for the Wild Card race.
So let’s get to it.
Last time
The last series started off good with the White Sox taking the first game 7-1 and Dylan Cease allowing one hit in six scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts and 103 pitches. Home runs from Tim Anderson and Andrew Vaughn helped lead the charge against the Royals who we all remember were momentarily in first in April.
It was hard to find the first place White Sox in the next game when they dropped 9-1 to the Royals, who ended a four-game losing streak. Lucas Giolito gave up three home runs in four innings, one short of his career worst start against Minnesota in July of 2019. The next night was a bit closer of a loss (3-2) for the White Sox but a misplayed line drive lead to a two-run double the sapped any potential momentum they could have had. Dallas Keuchel was struggling on the mound but some highlights were Eloy Jimenez snapping a 0-for-13 streak and Jose Abreu hitting his second home run in two games, reaching 20 home runs for the seventh time and tying Harold Baines for third on the franchise list.
How’s it going
The White Sox bounced back in grand fashion by sweeping the Cubs, taking the Field of Dreams game against the Yankees, going 3-4 against the A’s, going 2-1 against the Cubs at home, and sweeping the Pirates.
Meanwhile the Royals aren’t in last in the Central division-that spot is reserved for the Twins-and Salvador Perez is quite literally the only good thing going for them at this point. He’s leading the team in home runs (38) and RBIs (94). Nicky López is leading in batting average (.289) and OBP (.362) while Whit Merrifield leads in hits (150).
The Royals are currently posting a 59-74 record. They’re 10-10 in their last 20 games and 32-34 at home. Against Central opponents they’re 25-32 and are sitting 18 1⁄2 games back from first.
Pitching matchups
Today is going to be Dallas Keuchel vs. Carlos Hernández. Keuchel has been having a tough season. He’s 8-7 over 136 2⁄3 innings, giving up 146 hits, walking a career high 47, and has 76 earned runs, posting a 5.00 ERA. He’s 1-4 in his last seven starts with a 7.34 ERA while giving up 39 hits and 28 earned runs, walking 14. In his last five starts against the Royals, Keuchel is 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA.
Hernández is 4-1 this season over 64 2⁄3 innings with a 3.62 ERA. He’s 3-1 in his last seven starts over 37 1⁄3 innings with a 3.38 ERA. Hernández has faced the White Sox twice, going 2-0 over 11 innings with a 0.82 ERA. He relies on five pitches: four-seam fastball, curveball, slider, changeup, and sinker. Against lefties, Hernández is 3.68 and 3.57 against righties. He’s doing much better post All-Star break, posting a 2.93 ERA as opposed to the 4.98 ERA pre All-Star break.
Saturday is Reynaldo López vs. Daniel Lynch. López has been having a solid season between he reliever innings and his starts. He’s 3-1 this season over 35 innings with a 1.54 ERA. López is 2-1 against the Royals over 26 1⁄3 innings with a 5.13 ERA. He hasn’t faced them as a starter since August of 2020.
Lynch is 4-3 this season with a 4.47 ERA over 48 1⁄3 innings with a 4.47 ERA. In his last seven starts he’s 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA, allowing 37 hits and striking out 40. Against the White Sox he’s 1-1 with a 14.29 ERA. Lynch relies on five pitches: a 4-seam fastball, slider, changeup, sinker, and curveball. He’s another player who is posting a better ERA after the All-Star break with a 2.23 ERA as opposed to the 15.75 ERA he posted pre All-Star break.
Sunday is Dylan Cease vs. Brady Singer. Cease is 11-6 this season with a 3.82 ERA over 143 2⁄3 innings. He’s struck out 188 while walking 56 and giving up 119 hits. Cease is 4-0 over his last seven starts with a 2.85 ERA and 2-0 against the Royals in his last five appearances with a 1.98 ERA.
Singer is 3-9 this season with a 4.87 ERA over 109 innings. In his last seven starts he’s 0-3 with a 5.29 ERA. In Singer’s last five starts against the White Sox he’s 0-1 with a 5.29 ERA. He relies on four pitches: sinker, slider, changeup, and four-seam fastball.
Why we hate them
I’m just glad we only play them one series in this final month.
— Bill Koester (@Billy_dk_89) September 3, 2021
Salvador Perez hype, Whit Merrifield being untradeable, and Brad Keller’s dumb face.
— White Sox Truther (@SamR33v3s) September 2, 2021
There is so much to hate. Brad Keller, Salvador Perez, goofy porn-hatred, signing a pedophile and that is all within the last like 3 years. Must we forget Ventura vs Shark? They've been my most hated team for about a decade. Hope none of them ever prosper.
— AVIstan G. (@isureppin12) September 2, 2021
— Jeff Stix (@stickyb5) September 2, 2021
I *heard* their stadium along with the Chiefs stadium is in the middle of nowhere, so I don't care to visit. It's one of the stadiums I haven't been to yet
— Stephanie Stremplewski, NBC Sports (@stephstremp17) September 2, 2021
There are a lot of reasons but their weird owner starting a crusade against porn, but then basically begging to be allowed to sign the Oregon state pedophile has to be the top of the list.
— Rudy: Justin Fields #1 Fan (@CoveysBurner) September 2, 2021
— Richie 2 Sox (@LodiDodi17) September 1, 2021
Billy Butler
— North Side Sox Podcast (@NorthSideSoxPod) September 2, 2021
Two words: Salvy Perez.
— Kevin Lindgren (@k_lindgren3) September 2, 2021
Because the last time they faced the Sox, their crappy pitchers looked like Cy Young contenders. Like, what the hell?!
— Millennial Sox Fan (@MillennialSox) September 2, 2021
I learned that Paul Rudd is a Royals fan and it makes me sad.
— Leonard Skynard (@Leonard42) September 1, 2021
When they clowned on my boy Tim Anderson.
— This Flower is Wilting (@TheDazzlingOne) September 1, 2021
That fucking crown on top of that slapdick mascot!
— Patrick Curran (@IUB1G) September 2, 2021
2015. That is all.
— Kate (@librarian_kate) September 1, 2021
They lost this game. pic.twitter.com/pvKTQ0JgYj
— Kyle/Revan ZFG (Adam Engel Appreciater) (@Iamsharknado) September 2, 2021
Tony Peña, Aaron Guiel, Joe Randa, Angel Berroa, Runelvys Hernandez, Desi Relaford and the entire '03 Royals club....almost forgot Mike MacDougal
— Landon Gore (@landonwilliam86) September 2, 2021
Salvador Perez Brad Keller and I still live here.
— Mike Huckleberry (@HuckFromKansas) September 2, 2021
I probably said I didn’t hate the Royals the last time, but upon further review, Steve Balboni, Bret Saberhagen and Alex Gordon. But I loved watching George Brett and Kevin Seitzer. ♂️
— constantvariable1974 (@visorboy1974) September 2, 2021