White Sox work to continue roll after Royals played ‘one of the worst games’

Jun 26, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Tristan Peters (29) celebrates with right fielder Braden Montgomery (24), second baseman Chase Meidroth (10), and shortstop Colson Montgomery (12) after hitting a grand slam against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox, after regaining the top spot in the American League Central on Friday night, will look to win a franchise-record 10th straight home series on Saturday afternoon. However, it will be hard to top the series opener against the Kansas City Royals. Chicago crafted a 10-run third inning that lasted nearly 26 minutes en route to pummeling the Royals 22-1, handing the division rival its most lopsided defeat in franchise history. “We’ll take that all day, great at-bats by the guys,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Good job of just passing the baton and stringing together good at-bats.” The third inning was the team’s most productive in 2026, and the 22 runs and 23 hits were season highs. The five homers tied their best effort. The 22 runs matched the second-best outburst in White Sox history, trailing only the 1955 club, which scored 29 against the Kansas City Athletics. The White Sox moved to 27-13 at Rate Field, trailing just the Tampa Bay Rays (29) in home victories in the AL, and they are 15-9 within their division. Overall victory No. 42 this season is one more than their total in the 2024 season. After coming within two outs of being no-hit Thursday by the host Rays and losing 13-2, the Royals were thumped on Friday as they played arguably their worst two consecutive games in a long time. If those two blowouts weren’t embarrassing enough, Kansas City position player Tyler Tolbert took the mound and lobbed the final frame in both defeats. The Royals were outhit 23-4 in the series opener, and in total over three straight defeats, they have been outscored 40-6. “It was obviously a tough night all the way around,” Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said. “Early on, (the White Sox) hit a bunch of homers, and later on everything found a hole — ground balls, inside-out swings, all of it. Couldn’t get it to go to somebody. “That was one of the worst games you could have right there on both sides of the ball.” Kansas City right-hander Michael Wacha (5-5, 3.48 ERA), who will make his 17th start on Saturday, has pitched to a 1-2 record and a 4.21 ERA over four June starts. His problem has not been control: Wacha has issued only three walks in 25 2/3 innings. However, he has allowed 30 hits — though only two home runs. Opposing batters have hit .294 against him this month after batting .216 in May. He did beat the host Rays 2-1 on Monday by tossing seven innings of one-run ball. Wacha has been stellar against the White Sox in his career, going 7-2 with a 2.66 ERA in a dozen starts, and Chicago batters have hit a paltry .201 with 55 hits in 273 at-bats over 74 1/3 innings. The White Sox will counter with right-hander Davis Martin (9-3, 3.18 ERA), who will bid to become the first pitcher on the staff to reach double-digit wins. Like Wacha, Martin is wrapping up his worst month of the season. Martin owns a 1-2 record with a 7.20 ERA as the opposition has 29 hits in 20 innings, leading to 16 runs. Overall, batters have swung their way to a hefty .349 average in June against the fourth-year pitcher. Martin is 1-3 with a 2.65 ERA over six career starts vs. the Royals, who have hit .222 against him. At home, the staff ace is 5-0 with a 1.01 ERA in six starts this season. –Field Level Media

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