(Sports Network) -- Although the Chicago White Sox are still in good shape in the American League playoff picture, the current AL Central leaders haven't been playing like a postseason participant on their current road trip.

Chicago will try for a swift rebound from Saturday's loss to the Kansas City Royals when the clubs play the rubber match of a three-game series this afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City belted three home runs to back a strong start from Kyle Davies in last night's 5-2 decision over the White Sox, Chicago's third defeat in its last four games.

Despite the loss, the White Sox remained 2 1/2 games in front of second-place Minnesota in the AL Central standings due to the Twins' loss at Tampa Bay on Saturday. Chicago will visit the Metrodome for a crucial three-game series beginning on Tuesday.

Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer and both Kila Ka'aihue and David DeJesus had solo shots to lead the Royals to their eighth victory in nine contests. Alberto Callaspo had a double in three at-bats to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, with the infielder batting .346 (18-for-52) during his tear.

Davies (8-7) did his part on the mound as well, limiting Chicago to two runs on three hits over seven-plus innings.

Alexei Ramirez accounted for all the scoring for the White Sox, who are 2-4 thus far on a 10-game trek, with a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Sox starter Gavin Floyd (16-8) was tagged for eight hits and five runs over 6 1/3 frames, his second defeat in his last three starts.

The White Sox will send out John Danks in this afternoon's finale, with the young left-hander hoping to duplicate a strong effort in his last start. Danks delivered six shutout innings in a September 14 matchup against Detroit, although he wound up getting a no-decision after his team's bullpen blew a late 7-0 lead.

That failure of Chicago's relief corps extended Danks' winless streak to five straight starts. The 23-year-old is 0-3 with a pair of no-decisions and a 4.56 earned run average over that stretch.

Danks has usually been sharp in opposing ballparks, however, having posted a 6-3 record with a solid 3.17 ERA in 14 road starts for the year.

This will be the former first-round draft pick's first start at Kauffman Stadium in 2008, but Danks does have a pair of no-decisions against the Royals in Chicago this season. He has no record and a 4.58 ERA through three career starts versus Kansas City.

Brandon Duckworth gets the assignment for the Royals this afternoon and comes in off Tuesday's winning performance over Seattle. The journeyman right-hander held the lowly Mariners to two runs on five hits over six innings to run his record to 3-1 in five starts since being promoted from Triple-A Omaha in late August.

Duckworth has faced the White Sox six times previously, all in relief, and is 1-1 with a 7.27 ERA over a total of 8 2/3 innings against Chicago.

Chicago has won 11 of its 17 matchups with the Royals this season, but the teams have split eight tilts held in Kauffman Stadium. The White Sox took six of the nine meetings between the clubs in Kansas City last year.