Chicago White Sox vs Kansas City Royals series preview
The Chicago White Sox will open up the 2018 Major League Baseball season with a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals starting on March 29th.
Ladies and gentlemen, baseball is back!
After a long offseason, the Chicago White Sox are just days away from Opening Day.
Excitement, optimism and hopefulness are just a few words to describe the feeling on the South Side. All power rankings and predictions aside, baseball is finally back.
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The Chicago White Sox kick off the 2018 season in Kansas City against the division rival Kansas City Royals. The White Sox went 10-9 against the Royals last season, as Kansas City finished the season with an 80-82 record.
However, we’re going to be looking at a completely different Royals team when they take the field on Thursday.
Franchise player and first baseman Eric Hosmer signed with the San Diego Padres last month. Former all-star centerfielder Lorenzo Cain left for Milwaukee earlier in the offseason.
Relief pitchers Scott Alexander, Ryan Buchter and Joakim Soria are all out as well.
It’s fair to say this Kansas City Royals team is a shell of the team that finished in third place in the American League Central last season.
New Faces in New Places:
The White Sox went against popular belief and decided not to sell off their remaining moveable pieces during the offseason, instead making low-cost upgrades to the major league team.
The White Sox signed free-agent catcher Welington Castillo to a two-year deal in November. About a month later, the team acquired relief pitchers Joakim Soria and Luis Avilan from the Royals.
The White Sox capped off the offseason by signing free-agent starter Miguel Gonzalez to a one-year deal. Gonzalez was traded from the White Sox to the Texas Rangers last august.
The Royals had a similar offseason. The Royals signed free agent outfielder Jon Jay to a one-year deal to replace Cain in center, and signed first baseman Lucas Duda to replace Hosmer at first.
The Royals also decided to re-sign shortstop Alcides Escobar and third-baseman Mike Moustakas to one-year deals in an attempt to maintain some of their core players.
Matchup Previews:
The Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals will play three games, starting on Thursday and finishing on Sunday, with an off day on Friday.
Both teams are down to their final roster cuts, but the starters seem to have been decided. The Royals finished 16-13 in spring training play, while the White Sox finished 16-12.
Game One (Opening Day):
Probables: James Shields (CWS) vs Danny Duffy (KC)
Where: Kauffman Stadium
First Pitch: 3:15 PM CT
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
James Shields gets the start on Opening Day for the White Sox, his eighth-career opening day start. Shields went 5-7 with a 5.23 ERA in 21 starts for the White Sox last season. Danny Duffy will get the nod for the Royals. The southpaw went 9-10 with a 3.81 ERA last season for Kansas City.
Game Two (Saturday, March 31st):
Probables: Lucas Giolito (CWS) vs Ian Kennedy (KC)
Where: Kauffman Stadium
First Pitch: 6:15 PM CT
TV: WGN
Lucas Giolito will make his first start of the season in the White Sox second game. Giolito had an impressive stint with the team in 2017, going 3-4 with a 3.78 ERA in 11 starts. Veteran right-handed Ian Kennedy will get the start for the Royals. Kennedy went 5-13 with a 5.38 ERA in a disappointing 2017 season.
Game Three (Sunday, April 1st)
Probables: Reynaldo Lopez (CWS) vs Jason Hammel (KC)
Where: Kauffman Stadium
First Pitch: 1:15 PM CT
TV: WGN
Second-year righty Reynaldo Lopez will get the ball in the finale of the series on Sunday. Lopez had a solid rookie season in 2017, going 3-3 with a 4.72 ERA in 8 starts. Jason Hammel will start for the Royals, after going 8-13 with a 5.29 ERA in 2017.
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Regardless of the outcome of the series, its great that baseball is back. Coming into a season in which the White Sox could surprise some people, this should be a fun ride.