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White Sox-Royals Preview

Jun 29, 2010 - 4:56 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Chicago (39-35) at Kansas City (32-44), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The Chicago White Sox had the majors' best interleague record this season. They haven't enjoyed that same success against divisional foes.

Looking to avoid their first three-game skid since April, the White Sox continue their series against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night when right-hander Gavin Floyd goes for his first career victory at Kauffman Stadium.

Despite Sunday's 8-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs, the White Sox (39-36) finished a major league-best 15-3 in interleague play. The White Sox dropped their second consecutive game Monday, 3-1 to the Royals to fall to 12-16 within the AL Central.

The White Sox haven't dropped three straight since a four-game stretch April 15-18.

"It was a good ballgame, but we just didn't get the big hit," manager Ozzie Guillen said after his team's season-high six-game road winning streak came to an end.

The White Sox have lost five of six at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals (33-44), 4-1 since a five-game skid, will try to win their fourth straight series at home as they face Floyd (2-7, 4.80 ERA), who is 0-4 with a 7.53 ERA in five starts in Kansas City - all White Sox losses.

Floyd, though, has been outstanding lately, posting a 0.93 ERA in his last four outings. Opponents are batting .155 against him in that stretch.

"I'm just trying to keep the same mentality and the same approach," he told the White Sox's official website. "... I'm just thankful that things are going in the right path."

Things could be going much better for Floyd if Chicago's offense could produce for him. Floyd has received two runs or fewer in 10 of 15 starts, including six straight, and has the second-lowest run support in the AL at 2.80.

In Floyd's last start in Kansas City on May 16, he gave up five runs and 10 hits in a 5-3 defeat.

Brian Bannister (7-5, 5.29) also went six innings in that game, yielding three runs to earn the victory.

Bannister looks to build on a 1-0 victory at Washington on Wednesday when he avoided a third straight loss by pitching six innings of five-hit ball. The right-hander's effort helped Kansas City hand Nationals rookie Stephen Strasburg his first career loss.

"He's setting history right now, and I think it's great," Bannister told the Royals' official website. "I've never been a guy with that kind of God-given ability, and I can appreciate it because I know how hard I've had to work at the game to even be average."

Bannister, though, has been better than average in his last four starts at Kauffman Stadium, going 4-0 with a 3.46 ERA.

White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, tied for the major league lead with 20 homers, is 5 for 30 with nine strikeouts lifetime against Bannister. Konerko had his season-high 10-game hitting streak snapped Monday, and he is 1 for 26 versus the Royals this season.

Royals first baseman Billy Butler has fared much better this season in this divisional matchup with 12 hits in 27 at-bats.

White Sox right fielder Carlos Quentin, the AL player of the week, homered Monday and is batting .395 with five homers and 16 RBIs since June 16. He is 5 for 10 with two home runs in his career against Bannister.