The set-up: The White Sox dominated the Kansas City Royals in a series at home last week, outscoring the Royals 27-8 in the three-game sweep. Chicago built off that and had won six in a row, before losing 7-3 Sunday in Detroit. Meanwhile, Kansas City has been unable to recover from that beating by Chicago and with the White Sox coming to Kansas City for the opener of a four-game homestand, the Royals are on a nine-game losing streak, the team's longest in five years. The 7-16 Royals currently own MLB's worst record, while the 13-10 White Sox sit a half-game back of the first-place Indians in the AL Central.

The pitching matchup: Chicago hands the ball to rookie Dylan Covey (0-1 & 6.91 ERA) and the Royals will counter with lefty Jason Vargas (3-1 & 1.40 ERA). This marks Covey's fourth career start. He had a brutal April 19th outing at Yankee Stadium (5 IP / 10 hits / 8 ERs in a 9-1 loss) but while not earning a decision in his other two, he allowed just three ERs in 9 1/3 innings (both Chicago wins). That included Covey allowing two runs on three hits and three walks in four innings against the Royals last week (White Sox won 10-5). As for KC's Vargas, he's been a lone bright spot in April for the Royals. He was reached for four runs (three earned) in in five innings 12-1 loss at Chicago last Monday but that was after he had allowed just one run over his first three starts of 2017, all wins. That said, his history against Chicago is not good, as he owns a 1-3 career record with a 6.70 ERA in 10 career games (nine starts / teams are 3-6) against the White Sox.

The pick: Ok, I'll admit the Royals are not the same team which went to back-to-back World Series in 2014 and 2015 but they are also not a .304 team either! Vargas has started well in 2017 and is up against a rookie making just his second road start. Covey's first road start was that horrible effort at Yankees Stadium back on April 19th (see above). Make KC an 8* play.