The Kansas City Royals lost two key pieces of a lineup that guided them to the World Series, with another slated to sit out Thursday.
The current group has shown it has plenty of pop, but now it'll have to figure out a pitcher most of the Royals have been unable to solve.
John Danks looks to slow the Kansas City offense once again as the visiting Chicago White Sox try to avoid a three-game sweep.
Billy Butler bolted for Oakland and Nori Aoki left to join the San Francisco Giants, who beat the Royals in Game 7 at Kauffman Stadium to win the World Series.
Their absences haven't had much effect, with Kansas City combining for 28 hits through the first two against Chicago.
Mike Moustakas homered and former White Sox outfielder Alex Rios, who signed a one-year, $11 million deal in the offseason, had a three-run shot among his three hits in Monday's 10-1 victory.
On Wednesday, Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Lorenzo Cain added his third hit with a go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth of a 7-5 win. Alcides Escobar had three hits and is 5 for 9 with four runs and a stolen base.
Chicago pitchers have responded by plunking the Royals four times in the series, including Cain twice.
"It doesn't take much to fire us up," Hosmer said. "We're a young, energetic group. We feed off different stuff, whether it's the crowd or something on the field like that."
Tyler Flowers hit a three-run homer for the White Sox, who haven't lost their first three since being swept by the Royals in 2003.
"We are running into a hot team that has been hot since November," designated hitter Adam LaRoche said. "You give them extra runs here and there and they will make you pay for it."
Alex Gordon went 0 for 2 with a pair of walks for the Royals. He's expected to get a day off in the series finale to nurse wrist soreness he's dealt with since spring training. Manager Ned Yost said Paulo Orlando could make his major league debut in Gordon's place.
A fresh face to confuse Danks may be what the Royals need to keep their offense rolling. Danks has never lost to the Royals in 16 career starts and has won six with a 2.00 ERA over the last 10. He has a 1.52 ERA in his last seven outings in Kansas City.
Escobar, Moustakas, Rios, Cain, Omar Infante, Kendrys Morales and Salvador Perez are a combined 16 for 112 (.143) with 26 strikeouts in their careers off Danks. Only Hosmer has had some success, hitting .368 with a homer.
Danks went 11-11 with a 4.74 ERA in 2014 and made tweaks to his delivery in spring training. That didn't translate to success in the spring, though, as the left-hander allowed eight runs and 12 hits in 10 1/3 innings.
"I think I can give us just as good a chance as anybody, and I'm looking forward to showing that (Thursday)," Danks told MLB's official website. "It's been a long time, a lot of practice games and bullpens, but I'm ready for the lights to be on, ready for games that count and hopefully the start of a great year."
Danks will oppose Edinson Volquez, who hasn't faced the White Sox since losing in his major league debut with Texas on Aug. 30, 2005.
The right-hander went 13-7 with a career-best 3.04 ERA for Pittsburgh in 2014, earning a two-year, $20 million deal from the Royals.
The Royals haven't won their first three since sweeping Detroit in 2008.
