(My Sportsbook) - The Chicago White Sox continue their push towards the postseason this evening when they open a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Chicago did not help its cause this past week in the Bronx, where it dropped three of four to the New York Yankees, including Thursday's 9-2 setback at Yankee Stadium.

Javier Vazquez (12-14) was saddled with the loss after getting rocked for seven runs -- six earned -- on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts. The right-hander lasted only 3 2/3 frames, and coupled with Minnesota's victory over Tampa Bay, Chicago's lead in the AL Central dropped to 1 1/2 games.

Paul Konerko drove in two runs and Orlando Cabrera finished 2-for-3 with a run scored in defeat.

The White Sox will pin their hopes tonight on left-hander Mark Buehrle, who is 13-11 with a 3.85 ERA this season. Buehrle did not get a decision against the Yankees on Monday, as he allowed a pair of runs and six hits in six innings of his team's 4-2 loss.

Buehrle tossed seven scoreless innings to beat the Royals the last time he faced them and is 18-8 lifetime against them with a 3.45 ERA in 37 games, 35 of which have been starts.

Kansas City, meanwhile, will hand the ball to right-hander Brian Bannister, as he tries to build upon his first win since June 23. Bannister won for the first time in 14 starts (0-9) on Sunday in Cleveland, holding the Tribe to three runs and six hits in six innings to improve to 8-15 on the season to go along with a 5.77 ERA.

Bannister has faced the White Sox eight times in his young career and is 2-2 against them with a terrible 7.03 ERA.

The Royals have shown some life here down the stretch and enter tonight's tilt riding a seven-game winning streak following one of their most impressive victories of the season.

On Thursday, Zack Greinke hurled eight shutout innings and Mike Aviles hit a three-run home run to help Kansas City throttle Seattle 12-0 to complete a four-game sweep.

Greinke (12-10) gave up just two hits and walked one while fanning seven to take the win.

Alex Gordon and Mitch Maier knocked in two runs each and Mark Teahen was 3- for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the Royals, who are in the midst of their best run since the club strung together a nine-game win streak to start the 2003 season.

Chicago has won 10 of its 15 matchups with the Royals this season, but has split the six games contested at Kauffman Stadium. Last year, the White Sox won six of the nine meetings in KC.