Royals Vs. White Sox: AL Central Battle Awaits Kansas City, Chicago Fans

The Kansas City Royals are obviously out of contention in the AL Central, but that doesn't mean that the last two months of baseball are without meaning. As they gear up to play the Chicago White Sox with their next series, the Royals can get a good look at the division rival and make a statement in the last third of the MLB season heading into next year.

The Royals certainly have a lot of reason to hope for the future, but the starting pitching must turn the corner and to that end the Royals are turning to Luis Mendoza to do just that.

Mendoza has been a bright spot for KC many times this season on the mound, but it will be hard for the hitters to overcome Chris Sale on the mound for the ChiSox. The All-Star pitcher is 12-3 with a 2.61 ERA, so the Royals will have to make the most of every run they score.

The White Sox are 59-48 on the season and 29-23 at home at U.S. Cellular Field. The Royals are surprisingly strong (relatively speaking) away from Kauffman Stadium this year with a 24-30 record on the road compared to 45-62 overall mark.

For more on the Chicago White Sox, make sure to check out South Side Sox. For more on the Kansas City Royals, Royals Review is the place to be.