Kansas City @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 23, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 6, Kansas City 7

The Chicago White Sox are showcasing their players with less than a week left until the trade deadline. The Kansas City Royals visit the White Sox for the start of a three-game series on Friday and hope to take advantage of rebuilding Chicago. The Royals come in on a hot streak with three straight wins and five of seven.

Kansas City (48-51) is within three games of .500 and enduring less trade chatter surrounding its own players than in most seasons. The young Royals start a stretch of four straight series against losing teams as they chase down their first winning season since 2003. Chicago, which snapped a three-game slide with a 7-4 victory over the Tigers on Thursday, is 3-4 on its 10-game homestand.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Kansas City, CSN Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH James Shields (4-7, 3.24 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Jose Quintana (5-2, 3.61)

Shields has two wins in his last 10 starts despite allowing three or fewer earned runs in eight of those outings. The veteran right-hander surrendered three runs in seven innings against Detroit on Sunday but ended up with the loss in a 4-1 final. Shields yielded a total of one run in his first two starts of the season against Chicago but was knocked around for four runs on seven hits in five innings on June 23.

Quintana has not lost since May 21 and is coming off a win over Atlanta in which he allowed one run on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. The Colombian lefty surrendered two runs at Kansas City on June 22 but did not factor in the decision after working just 5 1/3 frames. Quintana is 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA in five career starts against the Royals.

WALK-OFFS

1. The White Sox have committed 70 errors, matching their total from 2012.

2. Kansas City LF Alex Gordon drove in a pair of runs on Thursday, his first RBIs since the All-Star break.

3. Chicago 2B Gordon Beckham (left wrist) has not played since Sunday but could be available this weekend.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, White Sox 3