Kansas City @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 3, 2013 ) Kansas City 2, Chi. White Sox 5

The Chicago White Sox have developed a successful formula in the first two games - get great starting pitching and rely on the home run for offense. The Kansas City Royals will try to keep the ball in the park and get to that White Sox staff in the series finale on Thursday. Chicago has scored all six of its runs in the first two games via the home run, with Tyler Flowers going deep in both contests. Jeremy Guthrie will try to end that on Thursday.

Royals starters James Shields and Ervin Santana combined to strike out 14 batters in the first two games but have not gotten much support from the offense, which was shut out by Chris Sale on Monday and could not break things open against Jake Peavy despite a series of errors by the White Sox on Wednesday. Kansas City revamped the rotation in the offseason but left the lineup basically intact, expecting steps forward from the likes of Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez. Those three and the rest of the Royals will try to avoid a sweep against Gavin Floyd.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSKC (Kansas City), CSN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (2012: 5-3, 3.16 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Gavin Floyd (12-11, 4.29)

Guthrie arrived via trade from the Colorado Rockies in the middle of last season and quickly became the best starter on the Kansas City staff, earning himself a contract extension in the offseason. The veteran right-hander chopped his ERA in half from the unsightly 6.35 mark he had in Colorado and was particularly successful against Chicago, going 1-0 with a 0.30 ERA in four starts against the division rivals over the final two months. Guthrie did not allow a run over 16 innings in two starts at U.S. Cellular Field.

Floyd has been a model of consistency since joining the White Sox in 2007, posting ERAs between 3.84 and 4.37 in each of the last five seasons while making between 29 and 33 starts. The 30-year-old does have a history of rough beginnings to the season, however, with career ERAs of 5.29 and 5.42 in April and May, respectively. Floyd won both of his starts against Kansas City last season while allowing a total of two runs in 14 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Addison Reed has picked up a save in each of the first two games for the White Sox.

2. Chicago 1B Paul Konerko is tied with Frank Thomas for third on the team’s all-time hits list with 2,136.

3. Kansas City RH Luke Hochevar made his first relief appearance since 2010 on Wednesday and gave up a home run to Alexei Ramirez.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, White Sox 4