MLB Live Streaming: Watch Kansas City Royals vs Chicago White Sox Live Radio Commentary Online Broadcast Baseball Channel tv 8/12. If the Chicago White Sox are to mount a serious charge toward their first division title in three years, they will need to play better at home down the stretch.
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That improvement could start Friday night when the White Sox begin a nine-game homestand with the first of three against the last-place Kansas City Royals, who have a winning record against the playoff hopefuls.
"Any other division we're looking at offseason plans like fishing. But in this division were still in the middle of it," said left fielder Juan Pierre, who went 10 for 30 on the trip including a three-hit game Thursday.
The White Sox are the only AL team with a winning road record (34-27) and a losing mark at home (24-32), where they have dropped six in a row. Chicago, which is 1-2 on the South Side against the Royals in 2011, will also host the Indians and West-leading Texas in this homestand.
A big reason for the White Sox's home struggles can be found in the bullpen. Chicago's relievers have a 4.07 ERA and have blown nine of 22 save chances at U.S. Cellular Field compared to a 3.08 ERA on the road, where they have converted 19 of 24 opportunities.
Kansas City (49-69) has a winning record against only five teams this season, including its 5-3 mark versus the White Sox.
The Royals head to Chicago after a four-game sweep by Tampa Bay including Thursday's 4-1 defeat. Manager Ned Yost's team scored only nine runs in the series -- the same total his bullpen allowed in 6 2/3 innings.
"We start to really show some improvement, but you can't get over the hump in winning games," said Yost, whose club's 18-37 road record is better than only Baltimore in the AL.
The Royals could improve that mark this weekend. Melky Cabrera is 13 for 36 and Billy Butler is 10 for 30 in the season series, with each recording a homer and five RBIs. Alex Gordon is 10 for 28, but has also struck out 10 times.
They will face Zach Stewart (1-1, 3.91 ERA) as he makes his second start for the White Sox and his home debut.
The right-hander, acquired last month from Toronto in a trade involving veteran Edwin Jackson, gave up a run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings Saturday in a 6-1 win over Minnesota. The rookie has never faced the Royals.
Kansas City's Bruce Chen (6-5, 3.43) will make his third start of the season against Chicago. He's allowed one run and four hits in each of his last three appearances versus the White Sox dating back to last season, posting a 1-0 record and a 1.29 ERA in that span.
Pierre is 4 for 13 and A.J. Pierzynski is 8 for 20 with two homers and four RBIs off the left-hander. Alex Rios, who had four multhit games on the road trip, is 4 for 25 with eight strikeouts when facing Chen.
Chen earned his first win in five second-half starts Sunday, beating the Tigers 4-3. He yielded three runs over five innings, striking out five while not walking a batter.
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That improvement could start Friday night when the White Sox begin a nine-game homestand with the first of three against the last-place Kansas City Royals, who have a winning record against the playoff hopefuls.
San Francisco at Florida 7:10 PM StubHub Cain vs NolascoChicago won six of seven on its just-completed road trip, capped by a 6-3 win over Baltimore on Thursday. Despite being below .500, the White Sox (58-59) are third in the AL Central, one game behind second-place Cleveland and four in back of Detroit.
Chicago Cubs at Atlanta 7:35 PM StubHub Zambrano vs Minor
Kansas City at Chicago White Sox 8:10 PM StubHub Chen vs Stewart
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee 8:10 PM StubHub Maholm vs Greinke
Colorado at St. Louis 8:15 PM StubHub Cook vs Lohse
NY Mets at Arizona 9:40 PM StubHub Gee vs Kennedy
Texas at Oakland 10:05 PM StubHub Wilson vs McCarthy
"Any other division we're looking at offseason plans like fishing. But in this division were still in the middle of it," said left fielder Juan Pierre, who went 10 for 30 on the trip including a three-hit game Thursday.
The White Sox are the only AL team with a winning road record (34-27) and a losing mark at home (24-32), where they have dropped six in a row. Chicago, which is 1-2 on the South Side against the Royals in 2011, will also host the Indians and West-leading Texas in this homestand.
A big reason for the White Sox's home struggles can be found in the bullpen. Chicago's relievers have a 4.07 ERA and have blown nine of 22 save chances at U.S. Cellular Field compared to a 3.08 ERA on the road, where they have converted 19 of 24 opportunities.
Kansas City (49-69) has a winning record against only five teams this season, including its 5-3 mark versus the White Sox.
The Royals head to Chicago after a four-game sweep by Tampa Bay including Thursday's 4-1 defeat. Manager Ned Yost's team scored only nine runs in the series -- the same total his bullpen allowed in 6 2/3 innings.
"We start to really show some improvement, but you can't get over the hump in winning games," said Yost, whose club's 18-37 road record is better than only Baltimore in the AL.
The Royals could improve that mark this weekend. Melky Cabrera is 13 for 36 and Billy Butler is 10 for 30 in the season series, with each recording a homer and five RBIs. Alex Gordon is 10 for 28, but has also struck out 10 times.
They will face Zach Stewart (1-1, 3.91 ERA) as he makes his second start for the White Sox and his home debut.
The right-hander, acquired last month from Toronto in a trade involving veteran Edwin Jackson, gave up a run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings Saturday in a 6-1 win over Minnesota. The rookie has never faced the Royals.
Kansas City's Bruce Chen (6-5, 3.43) will make his third start of the season against Chicago. He's allowed one run and four hits in each of his last three appearances versus the White Sox dating back to last season, posting a 1-0 record and a 1.29 ERA in that span.
Pierre is 4 for 13 and A.J. Pierzynski is 8 for 20 with two homers and four RBIs off the left-hander. Alex Rios, who had four multhit games on the road trip, is 4 for 25 with eight strikeouts when facing Chen.
Chen earned his first win in five second-half starts Sunday, beating the Tigers 4-3. He yielded three runs over five innings, striking out five while not walking a batter.