Friday Night Thread: Royals at White Sox

On May 11, the Chicago White Sox were 23-11, and they led the Texas Rangers 11-6 in the eighth inning. Their bullpen, the AL's best in April, coughed up seven runs, and the White Sox lost.

Beginning with that game, the White Sox entered a 7-19 stretch. Today, they're an even 30-30. It's pretty difficult to go from 12 games over to an even .500 in less than a month, but that's exactly what Chicago has done. Chris Sale, who is pitching tonight, is fantastic, but the offense can't score, and the bullpen is a train wreck.

Of course, things haven't gone much better for the Royals as of late. After winning six straight games to surge into first place, Kansas City has dropped its last seven contests, and with another loss tonight, the Royals would fall back to .500. They'll hand the ball to their best pitcher, Ian Kennedy, looking to end their longest losing streak in more than three years.

Oh, and Alcides Escobar is out of the leadoff spot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ....He's hitting SECOND tonight. Troll on, Ned. Hey, maybe the Royals will score more than one run tonight for the first time since.... *checks calendar*... LAST THURSDAY. HOLY GOD, ROYALS.

Here's the full lineup. There is some slight movement:

Tonight's opener in The Cell... pic.twitter.com/aZJGfUNf77

— Mike Swanson (@Swanee54) June 10, 2016

Two teams heading in the same direction. Let's see how it goes.