Kansas City @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2018 ) Kansas City 4, Cincinnati 3

Hunter Dozier hasn't been shy about flexing his muscles against the Cincinnati Reds this season. After belting the go-ahead homer in the ninth inning in the opener, Dozier looks to provide an encore on Wednesday as the Kansas City Royals (55-102) bid for a sweep of their abbreviated two-game interleague series against the host Reds (66-92) at Great American Ball Park.

Dozier, who also went deep when the cellar-dwelling teams met in their initial two-game series in June, entered Tuesday's tilt mired in an 0-for-12 stretch and was retired three times before launching his 11th homer in a 4-3 win. Ryan O'Hearn also went deep and has two homers among his eight hits during his last six games for Kansas City, which has won three of its last four and needs two more victories over its final five contests to avoid matching a franchise record of 106 losses (2005). Cincinnati, which has endured its fair share of setbacks this season, has dropped four straight overall and seven in a row in interleague play. Scooter Gennett had a triple on Tuesday to improve to 4-for-12 with three runs scored versus the Royals this season.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Heath Fillmyer (3-2, 4.56 ERA) vs. Reds LH Cody Reed (1-2, 3.66)

Fillmyer tasted defeat for the first time since July 8 on Wednesday despite allowing two runs across seven innings of a 2-1 setback at Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old did not walk a batter versus the Pirates, marking his first contest without issuing a free pass since a two-inning stint at Seattle on June 30. Fillmyer will be making his 17th career appearance overall and first versus Cincinnati on Wednesday.

Reed recorded his second straight scoreless outing on Thursday after scattering five hits and striking out six over six innings in a 4-2 win at Miami. "I was just throwing the ball over the plate. Getting those quick outs and getting the team off the field and back swinging the sticks was good," the 25-year-old told reporters. Reed, who has adjusted quite nicely since shuffling from the bullpen, will face the team which selected him in the second round of the June 2013 draft.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cincinnati OF Phillip Ervin has struck out at least once in 13 consecutive contests.

2. Kansas City C Salvador Perez scored twice on Tuesday and had a pair of singles to extend his hitting streak to four games.

3. Reds RF Scott Schebler is 0-for-11 in his last three contests.

PREDICTION: Reds 4, Royals 1