Kansas City Royals (88-73) at Chicago White Sox (73-88), 2:10 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - Rookie Yordano Ventura will close out the Kansas City Royals' most successful season in 29 years on Sunday afternoon, when they wrap up a final weekend series with the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
The Royals have already secured their first playoff berth since 1985, but can still forge a tie for the American League Central title with a win over the White Sox and a Detroit loss against Minnesota.
If the teams end up tied, they'll play a one-game tiebreaker to decide the Central crown on Monday. If it ends up as a wild card entry, Kansas City will face either Oakland or Seattle at home on Tuesday.
"We're going to be excited that we got homefield advantage," manager Ned Yost said. "But again, it's all going to come down to (Sunday). We'll see what happens. Minnesota is doing a great job playing Detroit."
Ventura has surged at the finish of 2014, winning five of his last six decisions and compiling a 1.60 earned run average. He allowed a run on three hits in seven innings of a defeat of the White Sox on Sept. 17.
In his last start, he threw seven innings to defeat Cleveland, 7-1.
"He's a special guy," Yost said. "He has all the makings of being a high- level, upper-tier pitcher in the American League."
Ventura hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in 11 straight appearances and is the first Kansas City rookie to reach 14 wins since Tom Gordon did it 25 years ago.
"He's a competitor," first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "It's fun to watch, too. We needed a big outing from him (Tuesday), and the way these starters are throwing, they're feeding off of each other."
Chicago's Chris Bassitt continues a late-season major league debut after defeating Detroit, 2-0, with 7 2/3 scoreless innings on Monday.
In his prior start, he'd thrown 94 pitches in just 3 2/3 innings of a no- decision against the Royals on Sept. 16.
"Some tremendous Bass is what that was (against Detroit)," manager Robin Ventura said. "He showed some composure out there, and he competed. That was a nice little outing for him."
On Saturday, Josh Phegley homered twice to help the White Sox to a 5-4 win over Kansas City.
Jose Abreu hit a two-run homer and Alexei Ramirez drove in a run for Chicago.
John Danks (11-11) again kept the Royals off-balance, limiting them to two runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings. Danks improved to 7-0 in 16 career starts against KC.
Danny Duffy (9-12) was charged with the loss after he allowed four runs on five hits over two-plus innings.
Salvador Perez homered, while Nori Aoki, Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas each knocked in a run for the Royals.