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White Sox-Royals Preview

Aug 21, 2010 - 6:01 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Chicago (66-55) at Kansas City (51-70), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Rain delayed by a day the Chicago White Sox's first opportunity to take advantage of a favorable stretch of schedule.

As they attempt to make up ground in the AL Central, the White Sox will instead begin that stretch with a doubleheader Saturday night against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Chicago enters the opener of this three-game series trailing Minnesota by 4 1/2 games in the division, but with a favorable schedule between now and when their next series against the Twins begins Sept. 14.

The White Sox (66-55) will play 16 of their next 22 contests against sub-.500 clubs, including two Saturday after Friday night's game was rained out.

Facing the Royals (51-70), however, may not be that easy. Kansas City has won four of six games overall, and is 6-2 in its last eight home meetings with Chicago.

"We better bring our best game here, because it could be a very disappointing weekend," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, whose team has dropped eight of 11. "We'd better be prepared to fight. We better be prepared to win this weekend. It's not going to be easy."

Guillen's club will begin that fight by trying to get Freddy Garcia (10-5, 5.07 ERA) back on track. The veteran right-hander is 1-2 with an 8.44 ERA in five starts following a 9-1 stretch.

He gave up five runs and eight hits over five innings Sunday against Detroit but avoided taking the loss in a 13-8 defeat. Garcia snapped a seven-game slide to the Royals with a 9-2 home victory May 5, but is 0-3 with an 8.80 ERA in his last three starts at Kauffman Stadium.

He's 9-13 with a 5.91 ERA in 26 career matchups against Kansas City.

Garcia will be opposed by Philip Humber (0-0, 0.00), scheduled to make his second career start and second appearance of the season.

The right-hander, who hasn't recorded a decision in 19 major league appearances, pitched two scoreless innings during a 3-1 road loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 10. He made his previous start for the New York Mets on Sept. 26, 2007, against Washington.

In the nightcap, the Royals' Bryan Bullington (1-2, 3.00) will try to build off his first major league win. The former No. 1 overall draft pick pitched a two-hitter and struck out five over eight innings of Sunday's 1-0 victory over the New York Yankees.

"I'm 29. Creeping up on 30. ... It's a long time coming," said Bullington, who was selected by Pittsburgh in 2002 but also spent time with Cleveland and Toronto before signing as a minor league free agent with Kansas City last November. "I had a few brief (major league) stints, but this is the first time I myself believe I belong here and can pitch at this level."

While with the Indians, Bullington lost his only start against the White Sox on Sept. 28, 2008. He's 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA in three games against them.

Chicago has not officially announced its starter for the second game.

The White Sox, who swept the Royals from July 9-11 at U.S. Cellular Field, have had at least 10 hits in six consecutive games, including a season-high 21 in Thursday's 11-0 rout of Minnesota.

Chicago leads the season series 7-5.