The Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox open a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium on Monday, May 5, 2025, in a matchup featuring two AL Central teams moving in dramatically different directions, with the Royals eyeing a potential climb up the standings and the White Sox desperately seeking a spark to reverse a disappointing season. Kansas City comes in with an 18-16 record and plenty of confidence after winning four of their last five games, including a decisive 11-6 win over the Orioles that showcased the offensive potential of their young core. Led by breakout bat Maikel Garcia (.319 average) and power source Vinnie Pasquantino (six home runs, 22 RBIs), the Royals have built an attack capable of applying pressure from the top of the order while also capitalizing in big moments with runners on base. They’ve been especially strong at home, compiling an 11-5 record at Kauffman Stadium, and will hand the ball to left-hander Cole Ragans, who, while sitting at a 1-1 record with a 4.40 ERA, has shown flashes of dominance and will look to feast on a struggling White Sox lineup. The Royals are 10-6 against the spread (ATS) at home and 8-5 overall as favorites, a sign that they’ve been outperforming expectations in favorable matchups, which bodes well as they host a Chicago squad mired in a slump. The White Sox enter with a 9-24 record and appear to be stuck in a cycle of offensive inconsistency and unreliable pitching, having dropped seven of their last ten games and ranking near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories. One of their few bright spots has been right-hander Shane Smith, who brings a solid 1-1 record with a 2.23 ERA into this matchup and will be tasked with trying to cool off a Kansas City offense that’s been clicking in recent series.

Offensively, Chicago continues to rely on Andrew Benintendi’s five home runs and Luis Robert Jr.’s 15 RBIs, but the lineup as a whole has struggled to produce timely hits and apply sustained pressure, contributing to their dismal 3-13 road record. Injuries have also taken a toll, with prospects like Ky Bush and Drew Thorpe currently unavailable, thinning their rotation depth and forcing the team to lean heavily on less proven arms and bullpen arms that haven’t held up well over multiple appearances. The White Sox have managed a 17-16 ATS record overall, covering in 51.5% of their games, but their 9-24 straight-up record as underdogs highlights how difficult it has been for them to close games or mount comebacks once behind. Monday’s opener presents a clear opportunity for the Royals to seize early control of the series, and with their superior form, home-field success, and more complete roster, they’ll look to strike early and often against a team still searching for answers in all phases. For the White Sox, the key to staying competitive will be Smith’s ability to limit walks and keep the ball in the park, while their hitters must find a way to scratch runs against a Kansas City staff that has been aggressive in the zone and supported by one of the better defensive units in the division.