Kansas City @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2011 ) Kansas City 3, Chi. White Sox 6
THE STORY: The Chicago White Sox still have a chance to finish .500 after snapping a five-game home skid with Saturday’s 6-3 win. They must defeat the Kansas City Royals in Sunday’s series finale, then sweep three games from the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. If not, Chicago will post its third losing season in eight years under manager Ozzie Guillen. Team management is likely going to allow Guillen to finish out the last year of his contract in 2012, but without his desired extension. Guillen will meet with chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and general manager Ken Williams on Friday before he leaves for a vacation to Spain.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, WGN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luis Mendoza (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Gavin Floyd (12-12, 4.46 ERA)
The 27-year-old Mendoza secured his first major-league start since 2008 last Tuesday against Detroit, and responded by allowing two runs over seven innings. He pitched effectively at Triple-A Omaha to earn the call up. In his MLB career, however, batters are hitting .327 against him.
Floyd hasn’t won a game or had a quality start since Aug. 28. In 13 career games against the Royals, he’s 3-7 with a 4.83 ERA. Melky Cabrera is 5-for-12 (.417) against Floyd with a homer and four RBIs.
ABOUT THE ROYALS (69-89): Left fielder Alex Gordon (.303, 23 HRs, 87 RBIs) is back with the team after missing two games with flu-like symptoms. He is expected to be in Sunday’s lineup. Melky Cabrera belted his 44th double Saturday; his previous high was 28. Over his last 10 games, Cabrera is hitting .409 (18-of-44) with five doubles and six RBIs. He has 199 hits. The Royals have won nine of 12.
ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (77-81): Designated hitter Adam Dunn is approaching a dubious milestone. After going 0-for-3 with a walk Saturday, he’s hitting .162 in 485 plate appearances. He needs 17 more to qualify for the lowest batting average since 1900. The current record is .179 by Detroit’s Rob Deer in 1991. First baseman Paul Konerko’s average dropped to .299 with his 0-for-4 performance Saturday. He has one hit in his last 14 at-bats.
FINAL PITCH: Kansas City leads the season series, 10-7.