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Chicago White Sox Vs. Kansas City Royals Preview: Chicago Hopes To Extend Division Lead In Kansas City

Chris Sale and the White Sox hope to extend AL Central lead in series with Royals.

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 06:  Chris Sale #49 of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning on August 6, 2012 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois.  (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 06: Chris Sale #49 of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning on August 6, 2012 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
Getty Images

The Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals begin a three-game series at 8:10 p.m. Friday in Kansas City.

Chicago has a 2.5 game lead in the American League Central over the second place Detroit Tigers. The Royals are 15 games under .500, but they've already won two out of three in a series in Chicago earlier this month and they are 9-6 overall in the month of August.

Left-hander Chris Sale (14-3, 2.60 ERA) starts for Chicago. He's pitched against Kansas City three times this season and is 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA against them. The Royals have hit .298 against Sale, which is the second highest opponent average for any team Sale has pitched against.

The Royals will start right-hander Luis Mendoza (6-8, 4.37 ERA). Mendoza has eight quality starts in his last 11 starts. He has pitched against Chicago three times this season and he's 1-2 with a 3.10 ERA against the White Sox.

The White Sox hit five home runs in Thursday's win over Toronto.

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