After suffering their 12th shutout loss of the season on Monday, the Kansas City Royals will aim to bounce back Tuesday night as they continue a three-game series against the host Chicago White Sox.
White Sox pitchers Shane Smith and Tyler Gilbert limited the Royals to two hits — doubles by Mike Yastrzemski and Bobby Witt Jr. — en route to a 7-0 victory on Monday.
Chicago improved to 3-8 against Kansas City this season while stretching its winning streak to three games.
Kansas City, which outslugged the Detroit Tigers 10-8 on Sunday but has lost four of its past six games, couldn’t solve the Chicago staff while falling four games behind the Seattle Mariners in the race for the third and final American League wild-card spot.
The Royals welcomed a reinforcement for the stretch run as they activated outfielder Michael Massey before the series opener in Chicago. Massey went 0-for-2 in his first action since a June 7 road game against the White Sox.
He missed 65 games with an assortment of injuries, including those impacting his left ankle, right wrist and back.
Massey was batting .202 with two home runs and 14 RBIs before his injuries and said he is eager to adjust in order to contribute more consistently.
“I just love showing up and trying to problem-solve and figure things out,” Massey said. “That’s kind of what gets you through. The numbers are the numbers, but I have more motivation than how many homers I hit or RBIs.”
Chicago has scored at least seven runs in four consecutive games, largely relying on a core of jelling rookies.
On Monday, fourth-year catcher Korey Lee provided the spark with a two-run home run among his two hits in his first major league action since June 5.
The White Sox recalled Lee from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday. He spent much of the summer in the minors as rookie catchers Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel continue to thrive.
“I’m happy to be here. Happy to be with the guys and contribute any way I can,” Lee said.
Chicago has three winning streaks of at least three games since the All-Star break. The White Sox have 14 series victories this season compared with eight in 2024, when Lee batted .210 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs in 125 games.
Lee senses a growing camaraderie in the clubhouse.
“Just the team,” he said. “You’re together, you’re with each other every single day. We love being together, we’re all competing for a job and it’s a fun atmosphere.”
Kansas City will try to even the series on Tuesday behind right-hander Michael Lorenzen (5-8, 4.50 ERA), who took a no-decision against Texas on Thursday after scattering four runs (three earned) and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. The Royals won 6-4.
Lorenzen is 2-0 with a 2.47 ERA in 11 career appearances (eight starts) against the White Sox. He’s 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA vs. them this season in two starts covering 10 innings.
Left-hander Martin Perez (1-3, 2.51) gets the call for the White Sox on Tuesday. Sidelined for most of the season with left elbow inflammation, Perez returned to the majors on Aug. 13. He lost Wednesday in Atlanta, allowing an unearned run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 1-0 defeat.
Perez is 6-1 with a 4.58 ERA in 13 career starts against the Royals. He has not faced them since 2023.
–Field Level Media
