(Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox are hoping a few days off and a return home will get themselves back on track for tonight's opener of a three- game series with the Kansas City Royals at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chicago went into the All-Star break with a 1 1/2-game lead on second-place Minnesota in the American League Central standings despite the club losing three of its last four tests of a six-game road trip that preceded the hiatus. The first defeat in that stretch came to the Royals in Kansas City, although the White Sox did win the first two matchups of that divisional set.

The Sox have had their share of struggles on the road all throughout this season, but it's been a different story at home. Chicago is an outstanding 32-13 at U.S. Cellular Field so far this year and comes in having won 20 of its last 24 as the host.

Chicago swept a three-game set from the Royals in the Windy City back in early June and owns a one-sided 24-7 record against Kansas City at home since 2005. The White Sox have also won seven of the last eight overall matchups in this series, including five of the six games played between the teams this year.

The White Sox will begin their post All-Star break slate behind Mark Buehrle, who hopes to continue his solid pitching this summer. The crafty left-hander has yielded two runs or fewer in six of his final seven first-half outings, although he does bring a two-start losing streak into tonight's tilt.

Buehrle is coming off a hard-luck defeat to the Royals in Kansas City on July 10. In that game, the 29-year-old allowed just two unearned runs and struck out eight batters without issuing a walk over 7 1/3 innings, but found himself stuck on the wrong end of a 4-1 decision.

The three-time All-Star has normally enjoyed success when facing the Royals, however. In 34 career games (32 starts) against Kansas City, Buehrle owns a 16-7 record with a 3.29 earned run average.

Zack Greinke opposed Buehrle in that July 10 meeting and will do so again tonight for the Royals. The talented young hurler was sharp on that night, as he limited the Sox to one run and six hits while striking out eight over seven innings despite not factoring in the decision.

Greinke was Kansas City's most consistent pitcher during the first half, having recorded a team-best 3.48 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 19 starts to go along with a 7-5 record. He is winless in his last three mound trips, however, with one loss and a pair no-decisions during that span.

The former first-round draft choice is just 2-7 with a 4.50 ERA in 15 appearances (12 starts) against Chicago, and is 0-5 with an ugly 6.62 ERA over the course of seven games (5 starts) at U.S. Cellular Field. Greinke has served up nine home runs in 34 career innings pitched at the stadium.

Kansas City is currently in fourth place in the AL Central standings and 12 games behind the division-leading White Sox. The Royals had won three consecutive games before being handed a 4-3 loss by Seattle last Sunday in the team's final contest prior to the break.