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Royals Ride Strong Pitching into Finale vs. White Sox
The Kansas City Royals have been unstoppable since the All-Star break, showcasing some of their best pitching performances of the season. As they get ready to face the Chicago White Sox in the series finale on Sunday, the Royals are aiming to complete a dominant three-game sweep.
Royals’ Dominant Pitching
Recent Performances
The Royals’ starting pitchers have been on fire, delivering exceptional outings throughout the series. Both Michael Wacha and Brady Singer struck out seven batters each over seven scoreless innings in their respective starts.
Key Performances:
- Michael Wacha: Seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in a 7-1 win on Friday.
- Brady Singer: Matched Wacha with seven scoreless innings and seven strikeouts in a 6-1 victory on Saturday.
Manager Matt Quatraro couldn’t be happier with their efforts: “It’s hard to ask for a better start, 14 innings without a run. And both of them wanted to keep going so they’re mad at me for taking them out.”
Upcoming Start
Seth Lugo (11-4, 2.48 ERA):
- Fresh off his first All-Star Game appearance, Lugo will be on the mound for the Royals on Sunday. He pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the American League in the All-Star Game.
- Career vs. White Sox: 2-0 with a 0.63 ERA in three appearances. This will be his third start against Chicago this season, following two wins in April.
Royals’ Offensive Support
The Royals’ bats have been just as hot, scoring 13 runs in the first two games of the series. All-Star shortstop and Home Run Derby participant Bobby Witt Jr. has been leading the charge.
Bobby Witt Jr.:
- Witt went 3-for-4 on Saturday and is 6-for-7 with one homer, three RBIs, and three runs since the break. He leads the team with a .332 batting average.
White Sox’s Struggles
The White Sox have been struggling to find their rhythm, continuing their woes into the second half of the season. After entering the All-Star break with four consecutive losses, Chicago has managed just two runs and four extra-base hits in the first two games in Kansas City.
Manager Pedro Grifol’s Take:
“We had some opportunities to put some runs on the board and we just didn’t. When (Singer) has his fastball going, and his command going, he’s got his slider, he’s pretty tough to hit.”
Offensive and Pitching Issues
The White Sox rank second-worst in baseball with 727 hits (only Seattle is worse with 708) and have a team ERA of 4.60 after Saturday’s loss.
Pitching Matchup
Kansas City Royals
Seth Lugo (11-4, 2.48 ERA):
- Lugo’s impressive season continues, earning him an All-Star nod.
- Career vs. White Sox: 2-0 with a 0.63 ERA in three appearances.
Chicago White Sox
Drew Thorpe (3-1, 3.58 ERA):
- Rookie right-hander Thorpe, acquired in March from the San Diego Padres, has been a bright spot for the White Sox.
- In his past four starts, Thorpe has gone at least six innings, allowing two earned runs or fewer in each outing.
- This will be Thorpe’s first career start against Kansas City.
Game Implications
The Royals are looking to keep their strong pitching and hot bats going to complete the series sweep. Meanwhile, the White Sox are hoping to snap their losing streak and find some consistency in both their hitting and pitching.
Conclusion
The Kansas City Royals aim to maintain their post-All-Star break momentum and secure a series sweep against the Chicago White Sox. Strong pitching performances from Michael Wacha, Brady Singer, and the upcoming start from Seth Lugo have been crucial. The White Sox, on the other hand, are seeking better execution and performance to end their losing streak. Fans can expect an exciting finale with both teams fighting hard for a win.
