Losing 100-plus games over the past three seasons trained the Chicago White Sox to fix their eyes anywhere other than the American League Central standings.

No more.

After edging the visiting Kansas City Royals 6-5 in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday night, Chicago enters play Wednesday trailing the division-leading Cleveland Guardians by 1 1/2 games. On this date one year ago, the White Sox were 14 1/2 games out of first.

"You're always kind of aware of (the standings)," White Sox left fielder/designated hitter Andrew Benintendi told the Chicago Tribune. "The last few years up to this point, it seemed like we're almost out of it. Right now, it's fun. We're competitive in the division. There's a long way to go, but we've put ourselves in a position where we are at least talking about it."

Chicago is staying afloat in the Central despite playing just five games within the division, all against Kansas City.

The White Sox took a 3-2 edge in the season series Tuesday despite being out-hit 11-7. Chicago hit three home runs, with Derek Hill providing the biggest blast with a go-ahead, pinch-hit solo shot against Matt Strahm in the eighth inning.

Drew Romo hit a solo home run and Chase Meidroth had a three-run shot to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Kansas City stayed afloat behind some muscle of its own. Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez hit solo home runs in the first inning to stake the Royals to a 2-0 lead. Vinnie Pasquantino, Witt and Perez collected two hits apiece.

Manager Matt Quatraro also complimented the focus of infielder Nick Loftin, who has delivered a hit in three straight pinch-hit situations after his two-run double in the sixth inning on Tuesday.

"He's been far more prepared, I guess," Quatraro said. "Not that he wasn't prepared before, but just from a mental standpoint. Understanding the role. Understanding when you're going to get up there.

"But he sees the ball well, so when he swings at the right pitches, he has a good approach out there."

The Royals have won seven of their past 11 games.

Right-hander Seth Lugo (1-2, 3.21 ERA) will start for the Royals on Wednesday in a bid to avenge a 2-0 loss to the White Sox on April 9.

Lugo yielded two runs (one earned) and four hits in 6 1/3 innings with four walks and four strikeouts in that game. He had four consecutive no-decisions after facing the White Sox, but that streak ended in Thursday's 8-5 home loss to Cleveland.

Lugo pitched a season-low four innings, allowing four runs and seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

In his career, Lugo is 3-1 with a 1.31 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) against the White Sox.

Rookie left-hander Noah Schultz (2-2, 4.68 ERA) is set to start for Chicago as he faces the Royals for the first time in his sixth career start. Schultz made his major league debut April 14 against Tampa Bay in the series that followed Chicago's four-game split in Kansas City and is coming off his toughest outing to date.

Schultz lost 8-2 to the host Los Angeles Angels on May 6 after spacing seven runs and seven hits in a career-low 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked four.

"I'm going to have to look at some video, make sure I wasn't giving away any pitches, wasn't getting repetitive," Schultz said after the game. "Thought I was going hard, soft, hard, soft pretty frequently. Just got to sit down, look at some video and make some changes."