The Chicago White Sox have lost seven of their first eight home games and are reeling from the injuries of three of their best players: Yoan Moncada (left adductor), All-Star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (right hip flexor), and Eloy Jimenez (left adductor). The White Sox will try to turn around the worst 15-game start in franchise history when they open a three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Monday. The White Sox have won just two of their first 15 games, surpassing the 1968 team, which started 3-12.
“You are trying to play hard every single day,” White Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi said. “I feel for them. It sucks to see, but by the time you kind of sit back and sulk over it, it’s a couple of games go by, and you can let those slip. You just gotta be mentally onto the next thing.”
The White Sox will send right-hander Nick Nastrini to make his major league debut Monday. Nastrini, 24, was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of last year’s trade deadline for right-handers Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly. Nastrini has made two starts at Triple-A Charlotte, going 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA. He made five appearances (three starts) in spring training this year, going 0-1 with a 3.77 ERA.
The Royals will send right-hander Seth Lugo (2-0, 1.45 ERA), who will be making his fourth start of the season.
In his most recent start last Wednesday night against the Houston Astros, Lugo earned his second win of the year, allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings, striking out two.
Lugo, who is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in his career against Chicago, will be making his second career start (third appearance) against the White Sox. Lugo allowed one run on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking two against the White Sox on April 4 to earn his first win with Kansas City.
In his last start, Lugo was the beneficiary of a good offensive night by Vinnie Pasquantino, who homered and drove in a career-high five runs in an 11-2 rout of Houston on Wednesday.
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