Royals vs White Sox Preview: Pitching Clash in Week 66

Yesterday was a disaster for Kansas City. The White Sox erupted in the third inning and never stopped. Chicago's hitters were unstoppable—Vargas, Gonzalez, and Peters all went deep. The Royals scored their only run in the fourth when Witt Jr. crossed home plate. It was a total mismatch. Now Kansas City comes back Saturday looking to bounce back from that awful game. Michael Wacha takes the mound for the Royals and needs to show he can shut down the Sox bats. The Royals are 34-48 and desperate for a win.

Michael Wacha has been around forever—he's pitched for five different teams in his big-league career. This season with Kansas City, Wacha is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA. He's struck out 19 batters so far. Wacha brings veteran stability to a rotation missing Cole Ragans and Jonathan India, who are both on the injured list. The Royals need Wacha to eat innings and keep the game close. He's the rock Kansas City can count on. If Wacha pitches strong, the Royals have a shot to win. His experience matters when facing a hot Chicago offense.

Davis Martin takes the mound for Chicago. He's only been with the White Sox since 2022, but he's got his shot on Saturday. Martin is 2-1 this season with a 5.82 ERA—that's higher than Wacha's. The White Sox are 41-38 overall but 26-13 at home on their turf. That's a big advantage for Chicago. Wacha needs to be sharp and limit damage early. If Martin gets wild, the Royals can score. It all comes down to pitching execution and which team stays focused the longest.