Jose Quintana gets better with experience

While largely underappreciated and under-recognized outside the organization, White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana has been good — and consistently so – in his last three seasons.

This season, Quintana is forcing his way into being noticed. He will take a 5-2 record and American League best 1.54 ERA into the White Sox series opener against the Kansas City Royals Friday. Through his first nine starts, he has taken his game from excellent to great and has climbed over the course of them – he’s 4-1 with a 1.03 ERA and 29 strikeouts over 35 innings in his last five starts.

What’s the difference in 2016 for the Colombian 27-year-old?

“I think more experience, knowing the league,’’ Quintana said Thursday. “I’ve learned more about the hitters over time.’’

Quintana logged 200 innings in each of the last three seasons with remarkably steady ERAs of 3.51, 3.32 and 3.36. A more aggressive mindset has also been a key this year, he said.

“And I think, doing what [pitching coach Don Cooper] says about attacking hitters,’’ he said. “Attack more. I’ve kept the same workouts as before and my preparation is the same, but I am trying to attack hitters early and get quick outs.’’

This series figures to be a good measuring stick for the first-place Sox against their AL Central Division rival and defending World Series champion. Under Robin Ventura, the Sox were 7-12 against the Royals in 2015, 6-13 in 2014, 9-10 in 2013 and 6-12 in 2012, and the Sox are 6-14 in their last 20 against them at home.

Ace Chris Sale will miss the Royals – he’ll catch them next weekend in Kansas City – but Quintana is the next-best choice to start the series, even though he is 1-6 with a 4.27 ERA lifetime against them. He’s been better recently, with a 1-0 record and 1.69 ERA in his last two starts against KC.

First rest for Lawrie

Brett Lawrie had played every inning at second base before Ventura kept him out of the starting lineup. Lawrie had three hits in his previous 25 at-bats with 13 strikeouts, including five in a row overlapping the first two games of the Astros series.

Carlos Sanchez played second, and Ventura also got Jerry Sands in the lineup at DH in place of Avisail Garcia, who had one hit in his previous nine at-bats. Ventura doesn’t like players sitting too long, he said, thus the urgency to get Sanchez and Sands in the lineup.

“You’ve got to get them some time,’’ he said.

Order of the day

Ventura slotted Jimmy Rollins, his customary No. 2 hitter, sixth in the lineup where Lawrie usually bats because he preferred “a more veteran presence” there. Sanchez batted second.

Ventura said he discusses lineups with bench coach Rick Renteria, third base coach Joe McEwing, hitting coach Todd Steverson and even Cooper.

“Absolutely, with how he’d [Cooper would] pitch somebody, just different things like that, maybe an approach another team would have that he would see,’’ Ventura said. “You’re always talking about things like that but it’ll be my call at the end.’’ Happy anniversary Former Sox Jack McDowell, Roberto Hernandez and Lance Johnson will be part of homecoming festivities Friday as the Sox celebrate the 25^th anniversary of baseball at U.S. Cellular Field.

Follow me on Twitter

@CST_soxvan.

Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com