The set-up: The Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals began a five-game series on Thursday (doubleheader scheduled for Saturday to make up a postponement from April 1). Chicago's 5-16 start was the team's worst since 1950, with the White Sox having lost 14 of their last 16 games entering last night's game. Meanwhile, Kansas City opened this long weekend series just 5-17, entering having lost 12 of their last 14 contests. Chicago White Sox belted five HRs, two by Matt Davidson, while notching a 6-3 victory on Thursday. Welington Castillo, Yoan Moncada and Trayce Thompson also went deep as Chicago won for just the third time in 17 games. Davidson has hit seven HRs this season, with five coming at Kauffman Stadium. The White Sox are saddled with a 6-16 record, but half of their victories have occurred in Kansas City, where they swept a season-opening two-game series. Kansas City has now dropped 13 of its last 15 games and owns the American League's worst record at 5-18, including a 1-10 mark at home.

The pitching matchup: Reynaldo Lopez (0-2, 1.50 ERA) will get the ball for the White Sox, while the Royals counter with lefty Danny Duffy (0-3, 5.26 ERA). It seems unfair that Lopez is winless in his four starts, as he's allowed just four ERs and 12 hits over 24 innings. In fact, Lopez hasn't yielded more than four hits in any of his outings but he has experienced some control issues with four or more walks in three of his starts. Good news for Chicago is that Lopez is 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA in three career starts against the Royals. Duffy had an excellent 2016 season (team was 12-3 with a 3.651 ERA and KC was 17-9 in his 26 starts, going plus-648 vs. the moneyline) but he couldn't repeat his 2016 season, going 9-10 with a 3.81 ERA last year. Duffy is not just 0-3 on the season but the Royals also have failed to win any of his five starts. Duffy was roughed up by Detroit in his last outing as he gave up six runs and 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings. He began 2018 on a bad note when Chicago's Abreu, Davidson and Anderson all went deep off him in the fourth inning on Opening Day as he allowed five runs and seven hits in four frames. Duffy is now 7-6 with a 4.47 ERA in 21 career appearances (19 starts) against the White Sox.

The pick: It's difficult to explain Duffy's 2018 woes plus is it really possible the Royals are actually this bad? I won't 'chase the Royals' but will play them here. It's not often we see a game between two pitchers who each have yet to see their respective teams win any game in which they've started. The Royals are 0-5 in Duffy's starts and the White Sox are 0-4 in games started by Lopez. One pitcher HAS to break through here with at least a team win, if not an actual "W." Make the Royals a 10* play.