Kansas City @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 13, 2018 ) Cincinnati 7, Kansas City 0

The Cincinnati Reds had difficulty locating their bats during their 10-game road trip, with five shutout losses serving as an eyesore on their 3-7 trek. The Reds (66-91) aim to find their offense Tuesday as they host the Kansas City Royals (54-102) in the opener of an abbreviated two-game interleague series between cellar-dwelling clubs.

"It'll be good to get home. It's been a long trip. Hopefully we'll be a little energized when we get home and start swinging the bats a little better," Cincinnati interim manager Jim Riggleman said. Scooter Gennett has five of his career-best 180 hits this season in the last five games entering the series versus Kansas City, against which he went 3-for-8 with two runs scored as the Reds recorded a pair of wins at Kauffman Stadium on June 12 and 13. The Royals answered losing five straight with two wins in three outings to split a four-game set in Detroit. Adalberto Mondesi homered for the fifth time in 10 games during Sunday's 3-2 setback, giving him six homers, 27 hits, 13 RBIs and 15 runs scored this month.


TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Eric Skoglund (1-5, 5.60 ERA) vs. Reds RH Matt Harvey (7-9, 4.92)

Skoglund saw his winless skid extend to eight outings last Tuesday despite scattering three hits over six scoreless innings at Pittsburgh. The 25-year-old has allowed only two runs and seven hits in his last three trips to the mound (13 innings), with all three earning him a no-decision as he works his way back from an ankle injury. "He threw the ball great," manager Ned Yost said. "Six strong innings. Did a really nice job. Got to 67 (pitches) last time out and was starting to get a little tired. Was in the mid-80s this time and felt great. So he's getting back on track."

Harvey answered a stellar outing with a disastrous one Wednesday, as he yielded seven runs on as many hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-0 setback at Milwaukee. The 29-year-old surrendered two homers for the second time in four starts, with a pair of three-run blasts against the Brewers upping his total to 26 in 150 innings this season. Harvey is limping down the stretch (2-4, 5.37 ERA since the All-Star break) and is 0-1 lifetime against Kansas City following a 4-3 loss while pitching with the New York Mets in 2016.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kansas City 2B Whit Merrifield has scored 15 times during his a 14-game hitting streak.

2. Reds 3B Joey Votto, who is 1-for-14 in his last four contests overall, had a bases-loaded triple in the 10th inning of a 5-1 victory over the Royals on June 12.

3. Kansas City 3B Hunter Dozier, who is 0-for-12 in his last three games, had a solo homer in that 10-inning loss to Cincinnati in June.

PREDICTION: Reds 3, Royals 2