Chicago @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2018 ) Kansas City 6, Chi. White Sox 7

The Kansas City Royals look to continue their strong play at Kauffman Stadium when they open a seven-game homestand with the first of three contests against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Monday. The Royals, who reside in the American League Central cellar and own the AL's worst offense, have scored 61 runs while winning eight of their last nine games at home.

Kansas City went 7-1 against Cleveland, Detroit and Baltimore on its last homestand before losing four of six on a road trip that ended with Sunday’s 3-1 walk-off setback at Minnesota in which it managed three hits. Jakob Junis has allowed a total of five runs in his last four home starts and gets the call in the series opener for Kansas City, while slumping Chicago turns to Lucas Giolito, who is 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA in three turns against the Royals this year. The White Sox, who are fourth in the AL Central - 8 ½ games ahead of Kansas City, were rolling along with an 8-3 record over an 11-game stretch before scoring just 10 times while dropping five straight contests - including Sunday's a 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Slugger Jose Abreu (22 homers, 78 RBIs), who has been out since Aug. 20 with an abdominal injury, could return to Chicago's lineup as early as Monday.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (10-10, 5.85 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jakob Junis (8-12, 4.32)

Giolito saw his streak of four straight quality starts come to an end Tuesday in a loss to Detroit as he permitted five runs - four earned - and four hits over 1 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old Californian reached the 10-win plateau for the first time by winning three of his last four starts, allowing eight runs in 25 1/3 frames during that span. Salvador Perez has homered versus Giolito, who is 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA against the Royals.

Junis has lost just once in his last seven starts, giving up fewer than three runs five times while compiling a 2.47 ERA during that stretch. The 25-year-old native of Illinois ended August with his first career complete game in which he held Detroit to two runs and followed with seven scoreless innings en route to victory versus Cleveland last Monday. Yoan Moncada is 4-for-7 with two homers against Junis, who is 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA versus the White Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago 3B Yolmer Sanchez registered a pinch-hit single on Sunday and has reached base in 25 of his last 26 games.

2. Kansas City INF Adalberto Mondesi homered Sunday and is 14-for-39 with three blasts in his last 10 contests.

3. The White Sox, who already have clinched the season series (10-6), have won five of the previous seven meetings at Kansas City.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, White Sox 3