The Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox will close out their four-game series at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday, May 8, 2025, with the Royals riding a wave of momentum and looking to complete a dominant sweep. Kansas City has now won the first three games of the series and 11 of their last 13 overall, pushing their season record to 21–16 and positioning themselves as one of the early surprises in the American League. The Royals have also extended their head-to-head dominance over the White Sox, having won nine straight games against them at Kauffman Stadium. Cole Ragans gets the ball for Kansas City in the finale, entering with a 1–1 record, a 4.40 ERA, and a team-high 46 strikeouts; though his numbers have been inconsistent, he’s shown flashes of brilliance and has the benefit of pitching behind one of the best defenses and most effective bullpens in baseball. Offensively, the Royals are led by the electric Bobby Witt Jr., who has compiled 13 doubles and 4 home runs, and third baseman Maikel Garcia, who is on a tear with a .400 batting average over his last 13 games. Their lineup, while not loaded with power, has been opportunistic and relentless, capitalizing on mistakes and stringing together productive innings. Kansas City’s pitching staff, meanwhile, ranks among the league leaders with a 3.16 ERA and a WHIP of 1.20, underlining the strength of a unit that has outperformed expectations from day one. The White Sox, on the other hand, enter the finale at 10–27 and mired in a season-long struggle to find consistency or identity. Offensively, they’re hitting just .216 as a team and have been one of the league’s worst at creating run-scoring opportunities, with very little production coming from the middle of the order.

On the mound, rookie right-hander Shane Smith is expected to start, and while his 2.23 ERA over his first few outings is promising, the team has failed to capitalize on his strong performances due to poor defense and nonexistent run support. The White Sox bullpen has been overtaxed and ineffective, while their defense ranks near the bottom of the league in efficiency, adding pressure to a young and inexperienced rotation. They’ve also lost 13 of 16 games on the road, and their 3–13 away record speaks volumes about their lack of competitiveness in tough environments. To pull off an upset in the series finale, the White Sox would need a near-perfect outing from Smith, a rare offensive breakout, and airtight defense—an unlikely combination given their current trajectory. While Shane Smith gives them a puncher’s chance, the Royals’ consistency, confidence, and recent dominance over Chicago suggest they’re in strong position to finish the sweep and continue their ascent in the AL Central standings. If Kansas City can once again pair solid starting pitching with timely hits and clean defense, they should have no trouble closing out what’s been a lopsided series from start to finish.