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The
Chicago White Sox
weren't expected to contend in the AL Central after finishing near the bottom of the division last year.
Thanks to one of the best home records in the majors, however, they begin the second half of the season Friday leading the
Central and looking to get off to a quick start as they open a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field against the
Kansas City Royals
, whom they've beaten five straight times at home.
Chicago (54-40) has a 1 1/2-game lead over Minnesota, a surprising turnaround from last year's fourth-place finish, and its
play at home has been a key reason for that improvement. The
White Sox
are 32-13 at home - the fourth-best record in the majors - after going 38-43 in 2007.
They have won 11 of their last 13 at U.S. Cellular, and are opening a six-game homestand that also has three games against
Texas.
"I won't say I'm satisfied but I'm happy where we are for now," manager
Ozzie Guillen
said. "I'd rather be here right now in this position than be in another position."
The
White Sox
stumbled into the All-Star break, losing three of their final four games. Their starting rotation, which is fifth in the league
with a 3.87 ERA, went 1-2 with a 7.64 ERA in the final six games.
Guillen, though, is confident his team will bounce back. After an inconsistent start, the
White Sox
have gone 40-24 since May 6 and have not lost more than three in a row at any point during that stretch.
"Our team plays bad baseball, and then turns it around a few days later," Guillen told the
White Sox
's official Web site. "It's kind of amazing."
The
White Sox
swept three games from the Royals (43-53) at home June 3-5, and are 5-1 against them this season.
Kansas City is in fourth, 12 games behind Chicago, but enters the second half confident after winning three of its final four
prior to the four-day break.
"I think if we keep playing the way we've been playing, we're going to make a couple good runs at this," Royals pitcher
Brian Bannister
told the team's official Web site. "I think we're entirely capable of coming away with this. It's not entirely unheard of."
Kansas City has finished last in the Central each of the last four seasons and has not made the playoffs since winning the
1985 World Series.
To get the second half started in the right direction, the Royals will try to defeat
Mark Buehrle
(6-8, 3.68 ERA) for the second time in eight days. He dropped to 16-7 lifetime against the Royals despite limiting them to
two unearned runs in 7 1-3 innings of a 4-1 defeat.
The left-hander has dropped his last two starts after going 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA in the previous four outings.
The Royals will again counter Buehrle with
Zack Greinke
(7-5, 3.48), who did not get a decision after limiting the
White Sox
to one run while striking out eight in seven innings. Greinke is 2-7 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 starts and 15 overall appearances
against the
White Sox
, but the right-hander is 0-5 with a 6.62 ERA in five starts and seven lifetime outings at U.S. Cellular Field.
The Royals have been outscored 34-11 during their losing streak at Chicago.
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