Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/17/2022

Time: 7:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Where to watch: NBC Sports Chicago, Bally Sports Kansas City

DraftKings: White Sox -170, Royals +150

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: White Sox -169, Royals +150

White Sox: 17-17

Royals: 12-21

Welcome to the party, Luis Robert. Thank you for reminding us all that the Chicago White Sox have the ability to hit the baseball hard, far and win games at the same time.

Robert hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning to help knock off the Kansas City Royals on Monday. I think that ball is still coming down at some point.

Oh, and then Johnny Cueto even returned to prime form after six innings of two-hit ball while striking out seven. It was a glorious day from that standpoint.

“Wow. That's the Johnny Cueto you've seen,” manager Tony La Russa said. “He's so deceptive and whatever the fastball is, it plays harder and he spots it. He's down and soft, and then all of a sudden he throws one by you. To be that sharp just shows you his talent and the work that he did to get ready.”

Cueto did the thing that a lot of people didn't think he could do: win a game. 

“That’s what I work for,” Cueto said. “I know that I need to save energy through my outing. And then once I know that my last balls are going to be thrown, then I just go for more.”

It's not often you get a gem from your starter and lose, unless you're the Cinncinati Reds throwing a no-hitter and losing. Brad Keller gave them that gem with seven innings of three-hit ball and just three strikeouts to lower his ERA to 2.89.

But man, this is a team that could use some batting. Sure, they got three runs, but Salvador Perez is creeping toward a .200 average and no one else but Andrew Benintendi is clouded in an unfortunate extra innings watch.

“We’re not worried about Salvador Perez [who is hitting .203],” Picollo said. “Not worried about Whit Merrifield. It’s really more worried about, how do we get some of these other guys, some of the younger guys, on the right track, stay on the right track. We felt like they were in a pretty good spot when they got here. And then transition that into the future. The goal is not to come in here and blow everything up, and Alec understands that.”

When Whit Merrifield is the only batter recording more than one hit -and he's batting .194 - that;s a major concern that needs to be addressed.

Thinking the Royals will take advantage of the fact they need to have a better showing rather than coming off a close loss last time out. Give me KC in a comfortable one. Royals win 7-4

White Sox are 4-10 against division opponents this season.

Royals are 60-69 at home the past three seasons.

White Sox:
Tim Anderson (R) SS
Andrew Vaughn (R) 1B
Luis Robert (R) CF
Jose Abreu (R) DH
AJ Pollock (R) LF
Leury Garcia (S) 2B
Adam Engel (R) RF
Reese McGuire (L) C
Josh Harrison (R) 3B
SP - TBD

Royals:
Whit Merrifield (R) RF
Michael A. Taylor (R) CF
Salvador Perez (R) DH
Carlos Santana (S) 1B
Hunter Dozier (R) LF
Bobby Witt Jr. (R) SS
MJ Melendez (L) C
Emmanuel Rivera (R) 3B
Nicky Lopez (L) 2B
SP - Brady Singer

Batting average: Tim Anderson -- .336

Hits: Tim Anderson -- 40

Home runs: Four tied -- 4

RBI: Three tied -- 12

Wins: Reynaldo Lopez -- 4

Saves: Liam Hendriks -- 9

ERA: Michael Kopech -- 1.54

Batting average: Andrew Benintendi -- .316

Hits: Andrew Benintendi -- 36

Home runs: Salvador Perez -- 6

RBI:  Salvador Perez -- 16

Wins: Three tied -- 2

Saves: Scott Barlow -- 3

ERA: Brad Keller -- 2.70