Royals AVG HR RBI SB
Gordon, A, LF .291 6 41 5
Getz, C, 2B .288 0 15 8
Moustakas, M, 3B .259 16 50 3
Butler, B, DH .300 21 67 2
Francoeur, J, RF .241 11 32 2
Pena, B, C .266 2 20 0
Hosmer, E, 1B .231 10 45 10
Abreu, T, SS .333 0 0 0
Dyson, J, CF .271 0 9 22
Chen, B, P 7-9, 5.66 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 91 Ks
Sox
Danks, J, CF .308 0 2 2
Youkilis, K, 3B .245 13 41 0
Dunn, A, DH .205 31 74 2
Konerko, P, 1B .319 18 54 0
Rios, A, RF .316 18 67 15
Pierzynski, A, C .293 21 62 0
Ramirez, A, SS .267 4 50 14
Viciedo, D, LF .248 16 51 0
Beckham, G, 2B .228 10 39 3
Peavy, J, P 9-7, 3.04 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 134 Ks
PTC: Youkilis, he is on fire at U.S. Cellular Field
Over/Under Royals Runs: 3
Over/Under Sox Runs: 4
Preview/Notes from MLB.com:
Chicago's decision to send Philip Humber to the bullpen and go back to a five-man rotation for the season's final weeks means Jake Peavy will have even more opportunities to reach 200 innings for the first time since 2007.
Peavy, who starts Tuesday in the second of a three-game set against the Royals, also has a sub-4.00 ERA for the first time since '09, his debut season with the White Sox, who have seen the right-hander return to his All-Star form. Peavy leads a rotation alongside Chris Sale, who held the Royals to two runs over eight innings in Monday's 4-2 series-opening win at U.S. Cellular Field.
The 31-year-old Peavy has a 3.04 ERA and 9-7 record through 21 starts, striking out 134 batters over 148 innings. He has already made more starts than any season in a White Sox uniform, and he could throw 200 innings for the first time since he did so in three consecutive seasons for San Diego, culminating with a National League Cy Young Award in '07.
"It's all about taking care of yourself," Peavy said. "The only way for these guys to pitch 200 innings and to get used to that is to do it. You've got to go out there and do it. That's something where you certainly have to be careful in how you let these guys do it and the shape you get them in, but Chris and the guys in this clubhouse, I know we all work extremely hard."
The Royals knocked Peavy around when they faced him on July 14, with all but two batters recording a hit in scoring six runs over seven innings, and five players featuring multi-hit games.
Mike Moustakas was one of those players with a 2-for-4 day and scored a run in Kansas City's win, and he will be in the lineup again attempting to support starter Bruce Chen after sitting out Monday against Sale because of a knee contusion.
"It's a bone contusion in his knee and the more time we can give him, the better off he's going to be," said manager Ned Yost. "Against a tough left-hander again today, it's a good opportunity to give him a break. He'll be in there [Tuesday] for sure."
Royals: Abreu to get opportunity in utility role
Tony Abreu went 1-for-3 in his first big league appearance since '10 after the Royals selected his contract from Triple-A Omaha on Monday, and he will play shortstop on Tuesday in place of Alcides Escobar.
The Royals promoted Abreu after designating Yuniesky Betancourt for assignment, and Yost said the club wanted to look at him in comparison to Irving Falu, who appeared in 15 games for the Royals this season in a utility role.
Abreu appeared at second base, third base, shortstop and designated hitter in 146 games across three seasons between the Dodgers and D-backs, but excelled in Omaha when given an opportunity to play every day.
The Pacific Coast League named him its Player of the Week on Monday and he hit .322 with nine homers, 73 RBIs and 36 doubles in 103 games. He is a career .312 hitter in nine Minor League seasons.
"In the Minors you get more of an opportunity, you're playing every day," Yost said. "Here, it's going to be a utility position and if you get to play once or twice a week, you're doing good. It's a little more difficult to stay consistent here at this level, but we want to look at him."
White Sox: Danks surgery deemed a success
The White Sox expect John Danks to be ready for Spring Training after he underwent surgery Monday morning that arthroscopically repaired a capsular tear and minor debridements of the rotator cuff and biceps in his left shoulder, but also revealed a normal labrum.
"If it was a labrum or something like that, that would be worse," said manager Robin Ventura. "It's good news. He's ready to go."
The left-hander will be in a sling for four weeks, but Ventura expects him to be on a regular schedule by Spring Training.
Worth noting
• The Royals send Chen to the mound winless in his past seven starts since June 26, but August is his best month. His 19 career wins in August are more than he has in any other month, and his 3.91 ERA is the lowest. He was particularly strong last season, going 5-1 in six starts with a 3.19 ERA. He threw on Thursday for the Royals and allowed four earned runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings.
• A.J. Pierzynski snapped a five-game homer streak Monday against the Royals, but still contributed in the win, going 2-for-3 and with an RBI double.
• A scoreless ninth inning from Addison Reed preserved Sale's 13th win and lowered Chicago's bullpen ERA to 1.15 in the past 14 games. Reed has converted 20 of 23 save opportunities in his rookie season.
