After yet another heartbreaking loss yesterday, the Royals will attempt to win the series against the Reds this evening. Getting the series would be a nice way to start this road trip for a team in desperate need of some positive momentum.
It will be Stephen Kolek taking the ball for Kansas City today. He has been a little uneven in his five big league starts this year but has been brilliant when he is pitching well. That extreme ground ball rate along with the Royals solid infield defense can really work wonders and is doubly helpful in a park as homerun friendly as Cincinnati’s.
Kolek will be facing Chase Burns, the Reds’ young fireballer. He is only 23 and his fastball sits near 99 and can touch the low triple digits. Burns was the second overall pick in 2024 out of Wake Forest and made it to the majors by June of 2025.
No Maikel Garcia in the lineup for the fourth game in a row, that means Carter Jensen is back in the leadoff spot versus a right-handed pitcher.
Read the full article here