Kansas City @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2018 ) Kansas City 3, Chi. White Sox 1

Whit Merrifield has been one of the bright spots in a disappointing season for the Kansas City Royals and the second baseman looks to extend his hitting streak to eight games Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game set at the Chicago White Sox. Merrifield is 11-for-27 during his latest run to raise his batting average to .302 and registered a single in the first inning of Kansas City’s 3-1 win Saturday.

Salvador Perez has hit safely in five straight games and Alex Gordon broke out of a mini slump with a solo shot to tie the game at 1-1 for the Royals, who managed just their third win in nine games Saturday. Rookie Heath Fillmyer looks to continue his progress when he takes the mound for Kansas City in the series finale while Reynaldo Lopez goes after his first victory since July 1 for Chicago. The White Sox saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Saturday after going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranding eight runners. Jose Abreu, who has 24 RBIs in his last 24 games, had a pair of hits in the setback to extend his hitting streak to five games (8-for-21).

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, NBCS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Heath Fillmyer (1-1, 3.61 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (4-9, 4.40)

Fillmyer followed up his best outing in the majors by allowing four runs on five hits and five walks over five innings in a no-decision against Toronto on Tuesday. The 24-year-old New Jersey native gave up three hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs for his first victory with the Royals on Aug. 8. Abreu was 2-for-2 with a homer versus Fillmyer, who yielded one run over 2 1/3 innings of relief against the White Sox on July 13.

Lopez permitted four runs on seven hits and a walk last time out after two straight quality starts to open August, but did not gain a decision in any of them. The 24-year-old Dominican finished July with four consecutive losses before giving up three runs across 14 innings combined in the first two this month, including seven frames of two-run ball versus Kansas City on Aug. 2. Merrifield is 6-for-16 against Lopez, who is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA versus the Royals in 2018.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago INF-DH Matt Davidson sat out Saturday’s game, but is 17-for-45 with eight homers in 12 games against the Royals in 2018.

2. Kansas City recalled RHP Jake Newberry and optioned RHP Jason Adam to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.

3. White Sox 3B Yolmer Sanchez has hit safely in seven straight games, going 11-for-30 in that stretch.

PREDICTION: White Sox 6, Royals 3