Chicago @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 16, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 3, Kansas City 5
Their 11-game winning streak now just a memory, the Chicago White Sox take to the road with hopes of beginning a new one.
Coming off their first loss in nearly two weeks, the White Sox begin a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Monday.
Since losing four of five games to start the month, Chicago has been on a tear, reeling off five wins in six contests before falling to the crosstown rival Cubs on June 13. They followed that defeat with 11 consecutive victories, their longest winning streak since a 12-game run in 1961.
The triumphant stretch came to a halt Sunday, again at the hands of the Cubs. The White Sox did their best to keep it going, however, rallying for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and bringing the winning run to the plate.
But Cubs closer Carlos Marmol struck out Alex Rios with two outs, preserving his team's 8-6 win and sending the White Sox to just their second loss in 17 games.
With the setback, Chicago concluded its six-game homestand with a 5-1 record and completed interleague play with a league-best 15-3 record.
The White Sox, who have won six in a row on the road, will look to Mark Buehrle to help extend that streak.
Buehrle has won each of his last three starts, posting a 1.80 ERA during that span. The veteran left-hander last pitched on Wednesday, allowing two runs and nine hits in six innings of a 4-2 triumph.
In 44 career games - including two relief appearances - against Kansas City, Buehrle owns a 20-10 record with a 3.64 ERA. The 31-year old has faced the Royals 21 times at Kauffman Stadium, posting a 10-7 mark.
Several Royals have had success against Buehrle, however. Willie Bloomquist is 13-for-30 (.433) lifetime against the southpaw, Mitch Maier has a .421 average (8-for-19) with six RBIs, Billy Butler is hitting .333 (12-for-36) with two home runs and seven RBIs and Yuniesky Betancourt has recorded three blasts and driven in four runs in just 15 at-bats.
Buehrle also will have the unenviable task of stopping Jose Guillen, who went 2-for-3 in Sunday's 10-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals to extend his hitting streak to 21 games - the longest by a Royal since Rey Sanchez had a 21-game run in 2001.
Chicago will have to try to continue its road success without closer Bobby Jenks, who was placed on the bereavement list Sunday and is not expected back until Wednesday at the earliest.
Kansas City will send Anthony Lerew to the mound in search of his first major league victory. He is 0-4 in 16 career appearances.
The 27-year old Lerew will be making his third start of the season and the eighth overall in the majors.
After having his contract purchased from Triple-A Omaha on June 16, the right-hander yielded just two runs in six innings of a no-decision against Houston the following day. He then surrendered four runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 frames of a 4-3 loss at Washington last Tuesday.
The Royals finished interleague play with an 8-10 record thanks to Sunday's triumph over the Cardinals. Jason Kendall collected three hits and four RBIs, Wilson Betemit belted a three-run homer and David DeJesus went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
Kansas City has won three of its last four games following a five-game skid.