Kansas City @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 2, Kansas City 3

The Chicago White Sox are doing their part to try to get back in the American League Central race and they’ll look to keep it going on Friday against the Kansas City Royals.

Chicago (77-63) has won seven of its last 10, but has gained just one game on the Minnesota Twins over that stretch. The White Sox sit six games back of the Twins heading into Friday’s game, the first of a nine-game home stand for Chicago. It’s hard to catch a team that leads the majors with a 37-15 record since the All-Star break.

Mark Buehrle (12-10, 3.99 ERA) gets the call after throwing a 126 pitches in his last outing, which is the second highest pitch count he has ever thrown in an MLB game. He took the no-decision, holding the Red Sox to four runs over seven innings while striking out six.

Buehrle has owned the Royals over his career, posting a 21-11 record with a 3.56 ERA and 150 strikeouts.

Friday will be the home debut for newly-acquired designated hitter Manny Ramirez. The slugger started off going 7-for-16 in his first four games with the White Sox, but is hitless in his last three. The White Sox could use some production as they have managed just five runs over those last three games.

Bruce Chen (9-7, 4.89 ERA) gets the ball for the Royals (57-82). Chen leads the team with his nine wins, but is 1-1 in his last three starts with a 6.60 ERA and took a no-decision in a 6-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers the last time he started.

The 6-foot-1 lefty gave up four runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking three.

Chen hasn’t had much luck against the White Sox in his career, going 0-3 with a 5.49 ERA in four starts. He gave up three runs in 3 1/3 innings during an 8-2 loss to Chicago on July 9.

Royals manager Ned Yost said his team would play it straight as it heads into the series with the White Sox, playing his starters instead of prospects, after doing the same against the division-leading Twins.

Not that it helped the White Sox much – Kansas City dropped three straight games on the road against the Twins before traveling to Chicago.

Kansas City averages only 4.07 runs per game on the year and has managed five runs only once over its last seven games.