An important stretch of the season that sees the Royals play ten straight games against AL Central foes will come to an end after the conclusion of a trip to the Windy City to face the White Sox in a three-game set. Here are some stats to keep an eye on and the probable starters for each game.<\/p>\n
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Probable Starters<\/h2>\n
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Game One: Stephen Kolek (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Erick Fedde (0-4, 3.79 ERA)<\/p>\n
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Game Two: Seth Lugo (1-2, 3.21 ERA) vs. Noah Schultz (2-2, 4.68 ERA)<\/p>\n
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Game Three: Kris Bubic (3-1, 3.50 ERA) vs. Sean Burke (2-3, 3.68 ERA)<\/p>\n
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Can Royals Starting Pitching Continue Domination of White Sox?<\/h2>\n
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If there has been a constant in recent seasons for the Royals, it has been the starting pitching’s dominance of the White Sox. Seth Lugo is the poster child for this with his 1.31 ERA in seven games started against the White Sox. This year, Lugo has faced the White Sox once going 6 1\/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned), four hits, walking four, and striking out four batters. He will look to continue that dominance against one of the White Sox top prospects.<\/p>\n
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Lugo is the White Sox killer, but Kris Bubic is right behind him in the rankings. Bubic, in 12 games pitched against them, has an ERA of 2.04. He too has faced them this season and it was his seven innings of work, allowing two hits, walking one, and striking out 11 batters. He will get the series finale, but the final Royals starter is one who has never faced the Royals.<\/p>\n
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How does Stephen Kolek and Noah Schultz do in their first starts against White Sox\/Royals?<\/h2>\n
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This series will have two pitchers who have never faced the other team as Kolek and Schultz will get their first goes at the others respective teams. While they won’t directly face each other they both will be wildcards in a crucial series. They both also have a semi-limited sample size, so let’s give them a little dive each.<\/p>\n
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Kolek is running an impressive streak as a Royal with every one of his starts being quality starts. That includes his spot start against the Guardians where he went six innings, allowing four hits, three runs, walking no one, and striking out three batters. A man of few strikeouts and fewer walks, Kolek will need to keep the ball in Guaranteed Rate Field against a sneaky good White Sox offense.<\/p>\n
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Schultz, on the other hand, is getting his first cup of coffee as the second ranked prospect in the White Sox system. He has started five games so far and has had three solid outings with his debut and last start against the Los Angeles Angels where he gave up seven runs in 3 2\/3 innings. The strengths of the 6’10” southpaw are he limits hard hits and sports a strong mid 90s 4-seam and sweeper that has been his out pitches so far. He also throws a sinker, cutter, and changeup, but those have been hit plenty early in his young career.<\/p>\n
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Can this be the series “Salvy” turns it around?<\/h2>\n
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