The Kansas City Royals continue their road trip as they travel to Chicago to take on the White Sox starting on Monday night. The Royals come into this series in last place in the AL Central while the White Sox are 6-4 in their last ten games and just off the pace in the crowded top of the AL Central Division. Monday's pitching matchup will feature a pair of right-handers as Brad Keller (5-11, 4.18) of the Royals will take on Michael Kopech (4-6, 3.16) of the White Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 810pm EST.
The Kansas City Royals approach the trade deadline looking towards the future and most likely sellers rather than buyers. The Royals started the selling when the team dealt outfielder Andrew Benentendi to the Yankees prior to their four-game set with the Bronx Bombers on Thursday night. The Royals proceeded to lose three straight games in the series and appeared headed towards a four-game sweep as they trailed 6-4 heading into the 9th inning facing Yankees closer Clay Holmes. Instead, the Royals got two runners on ahead of slugging catcher Salvador Perez who proceeded to launch his 12th home run of the season to lead the Royals to an 8-6 win over the Bombers to salvage a game in the series.
The one and only.@SalvadorPerez15 // #TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/FGAabE3Y5J
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 31, 2022
The Royals bats cooled off considerably prior to Sunday's late-game explosion. The Royals lost five straight games heading into Sunday with three of those games being shutouts. KC is now 28th in baseball in runs scored per game, 24th in slugging and 21st in on base percentage. Those numbers may take a dip without Benentendi's bat in the lineup, the team's leading hitter prior to his departure. On the mound on Monday night will be Brad Keller. Keller leads the team in quality starts, wins and innings pitched this season. In July, he is 3-2 in five starts with a 3.77 ERA. Keller has faced the White Sox twice this season without a decision. He's thrown 14 innings and allowed 11 hits and 4 runs in the two starts.