Desperate for win, White Sox host Royals

As if enduring its second 14-game losing streak of the season isn't tough enough, the Chicago White Sox host a three-game series starting Monday night against one of their worst tormentors, the Kansas City Royals.

Fourteen is the franchise record for consecutive losses.

The White Sox fell to 27-81 Sunday with a 6-3 loss to Seattle that completed a three-game series sweep. Not even the presence of their best pitcher, All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet, could bust the slump.

Crochet lasted only three innings, permitting six hits and five runs, three earned. He threw just 64 pitches and dropped to 6-8, although his 3.23 ERA is a far better indicator of how he has pitched.

"We're competing, but we're not winning," Crochet said. "There's really nothing to be said about it. ...

"It's terrible."

Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said Crochet has distinguished himself with his willingness to work hard in the face of the team's disastrous season. Rumors have suggested Crochet has imposed conditions a team must meet before he would accept a trade before Tuesday's deadline, but Grifol said his pitcher's competitive spirit isn't an issue.

"There's some real interest," Grifol said. "You have to understand that it's a business, and he's done a really good job of it. He competes his (butt) off."

Chicago's last win was a 3-1 decision over the visiting Minnesota Twins on July 10 in the first game of a doubleheader. The White Sox have a .250 winning percentage, which is on pace with the 1962 New York Mets, who lost a major-league-worst 120 losses. Chicago has been outscored by 218 runs, also the worst in the majors. The next-worst run differential is Colorado at minus-173.

Chris Flexen (2-10, 5.25 ERA) gets the call on Monday night. He last worked Wednesday, giving up three runs in 4 2/3 innings of an eventual 10-2 loss at Texas.

Flexen is 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA in five career appearances (including four starts) against Kansas City. The two losses came this season, most recently a 7-1 defeat on July 19 in Kansas City when he surrendered seven runs on four hits and five walks in 4 2/3 innings.

The Royals get their final crack at Chicago this year and probably wish they had more chances. They are 9-1 and could use more wins in a tight American League wild-card race.

Kansas City is coming off a 7-3 loss Sunday to the Chicago Cubs that completed a 5-4 homestand. The Royals are one game ahead of the Boston Red Sox for the last wild-card spot in the American League.

They will send Alec Marsh (7-7, 4.75) to the mound on Monday night. Marsh last worked on Tuesday, absorbing a 6-2 loss to the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks after permitting five runs off five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.

Marsh is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in three career performances (including one start) against the White Sox.

Aside from shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who could win the AL's Most Valuable Player award, outfielder Hunter Renfroe is wielding the hot bat for Kansas City. He knocked in two runs Sunday and has batted .299 since mid-May.

Renfroe said a tweak of his mechanics fueled his recent surge.

"Keep my hands as still as possible in the launch position and be ready to fire," he said.

--Field Level Media