Kansas City @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2019 ) Kansas City 3, Chi. White Sox 7

Yoan Moncada has picked on Kansas City throughout his breakout campaign, and he'll try to stay hot at the plate when his Chicago White Sox continue a three-game series with the visiting Royals on Wednesday. Moncada had three hits - including a two-run homer - in a 7-3 victory in the series opener Tuesday.

The 24-year-old is 13-for-26 during a six-game hitting streak to push his average to .301, and he is batting .377 with six homers and 13 RBIs in 17 games against Kansas City in 2019. Eloy Jimenez hit his first career grand slam for Chicago on Tuesday, becoming the sixth rookie in franchise history to reach 25 in his debut season. Glenn Sparkman has been struggling on the mound lately for the Royals but he delivered his only career shutout in a matchup with the White Sox at home July 16. He takes the mound Wednesday against Chicago right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, who notched his first career complete game Thursday at Cleveland.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, NBCS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Glenn Sparkman (3-11, 5.97 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (9-12, 5.17)

Sparkman has lost each of his last three starts while giving up 15 runs over 12 2/3 innings. He struck out eight, walked one and yielded five hits in his 116-pitch gem against the White Sox earlier in the year. Moncada is 4-for-9 with a home run against Sparkman, who has allowed five runs in four career innings at Chicago's Guaranteed Rate Field.

Lopez struck out 11 and surrendered just one hit in his 7-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians while throwing 109 pitches last time out. That outing came five days after he was rocked for six runs in two-thirds of an inning at Atlanta. The 25-year-old is 4-2 with a 4.71 ERA in 11 career starts against the Royals, and he has been dominated by slugger Jorge Soler, who is 9-for-14 with two homers and two doubles against Lopez.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Royals activated RHP Jake Newberry from the 10-day injured list.

2. White Sox SS Tim Anderson saw an eight-game hitting streak come to an end Tuesday as his AL-leading average fell to .331.

3. Kansas City LF Alex Gordon hit a solo homer Tuesday to give him five RBIs over his last six games.

PREDICTION: White Sox 6, Royals 3