(Sports Network) - U.S. Cellular Field is the site of tonight's clash between the Kansas City Royals and hometown Chicago White Sox, as the two teams continue a three-game weekend set.
On the hill for Kansas City tonight will be Brian Bannister, a righty who is 7-6 with a 5.44 ERA. Bannister has allowed 112 hits through 96 innings and boasts a modest strikeout total of 58. On Monday, he did not figure in the decision of a game against Seattle in which he allowed four earned runs on six hits in seven innings.
Bannister is 1-2 with a lofty 9.69 ERA in three starts against the White Sox this season, and 4-6 with a 7.97 ERA in his career versus Chicago.
Gavin Floyd is the scheduled pitcher for Chicago tonight and is coming off one of his best performances of the season. On Monday, Floyd allowed just one earned run on five hits in seven standout innings against the Angels. He is now 2-0 with a 1.31 ERA in his last three starts, but his 4-7 overall record still leaves much to be desired.
Floyd is 1-2 with a 6.16 ERA against the Royals this season, having surrendered 30 hits in 19 innings in three starts. The righty is just 2-7 lifetime against Kansas City.
On Friday, Mark Buehrle spun seven scoreless frames and A.J. Pierzynski hit two home runs and drove in a season-high four runs to power the White Sox to an 8-2 victory over Kansas City in the opener of this set.
Buehrle (8-7) allowed six hits, while walking three and striking out a pair to lead Chicago to its sixth consecutive win.
"We've been pitching well," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "All five [of our starters] give our team a chance to win."
Andruw Jones had three hits and drove in two runs and Paul Konerko had a pair of hits, scored twice and drove in a run for the White Sox, who have won 12 of their last 13 home games.
Bruce Chen (5-3) suffered the loss for Kansas City after yielding three runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings, while walking one and fanning one. The Royals, were denied their first four-game win streak of the season.
"Our club hasn't quit," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "It was good that it wasn't a shutout."
Royals' outfielder Jose Guillen missed his second straight game due to a left quadriceps strain suffered in Tuesday's game in Seattle.
These teams have split 10 meetings so far this year, but Kansas City lost two of three at Chicago from May 3-5.