The Kansas City Royals will look to continue playing the spolier role as they try to win their final season series against the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.
After winning last night's game 3-0, the Royals (67-81) will send right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (7-12, 4.92) to the mound. Guthrie is 4-3 with a 3.13 ERA since being traded to Kansas City from the Colorado Rockies, but he's 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last five starts for the club.
The White Sox (81-67), who took game one of the series, will counter by sending Francisco Liriano (6-11, 5.24) to the hill. The left-hander has struggled in his last five starts, going 1-1 and posting a hefty 6.00 ERA. Chicago's lead over the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central is down to two games.
The lineups for Thursday night are as follows:
Kansas City Royals
- Jason Bourgeois (R) CF
- Alcides Escobar (R) SS
- Alex Gordon (L) LF
- Billy Butler (R) DH
- Salvador Perez (R) C
- Mike Moustakas (L) 3B
- Jeff Francoeur (R) RF
- Eric Hosmer (L) 1B
- Johnny Giavotella (R) 2B
Chicago White Sox
- Alejandro De Aza (L) LF
- Dewayne Wise (L) CF
- Adam Dunn (L) 1B
- Alex Rios (R) RF
- A.J. Pierzynski (L) C
- Kevin Youkilis (R) 3B
- Dan Johnson (L) DH
- Alexei Ramirez (R) SS
- Gordon Beckham (R) 2B
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT at Kauffmann Stadium, and the game will be televised on Fox Sports Kansas City.
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