[InTheHole]

BIG AL

At 2:10 pm our selection is on the Kansas City Royals over the Chicago White Sox. You can argue about whether Zack Greinke, Roy Halladay, or Johan Santana has been the better starter over the first couple of months of the season, but there is no argument about which one is the most surprising or most improved. That honor goes to Greinke in a walkover. To be sure, Greinke had very good numbers in 2008, but the way he is going, he is on track to have about the best numbers since Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez were in their prime. And yet because he pitches for Kansas City, it's never a given when he goes out there that he's going to end up with a "W" at the end of the game. Although they are improved from last season, the Royals are still a sub-.500 squad and will probably end the season that way. But he gets this start at home and against a team with a very similar record to the Royals. After the destruction that KC experienced at the hands of the White Sox on Friday, and its loss last night, rest assured that Greinke will have revenge on his mind. Yesterday's loss was especially heartbreaking, as the White Sox scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning on Saturday to win the game against KC's bullpen. So don't be surprised if Greinke goes all the way this afternoon, and the bullpen has the afternoon off. If he does go the distance, it would already be his sixth complete game of the season. Indeed, Greinke is pitching in rarefied air this season. With an ERA of 0.84, he's the first pitcher since SF's Juan Marichal in 1966 to have an ERA under 1.00 through his first 10 starts. Take the Royals