Reds at Royals
A pair of last-place teams will square off when the Kansas City Royals host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday in the opener of a two-game interleague series. The Reds are kicking off a five-game road trip and come in with some momentum after avoiding a sweep and earning a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.
The star of Sunday's win was center fielder Billy Hamilton, who tripled and scored twice while making dazzling defensive plays in the outfield. "That's why he's so important," Cincinnati interim manager Jim Riggleman told reporters of Hamilton, who remains in the everyday lineup despite batting .193 with a .284 slugging percentage. "With all due respect to everybody else that goes out there, nobody else can do the things that he does -- and I mean throughout the league. It was just really special. ... He was on display today." The Royals dropped three of four to the Oakland Athletics over the weekend and failed to score more than two runs in any of the four games. Kansas City's offense will take its chances on Tuesday against right-hander Sal Romano while countering with veteran Ian Kennedy.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Sal Romano (3-7, 6.23 ERA) vs. Royals RH Ian Kennedy (1-6, 5.76)
Romano is trying to battle through a terrible stretch that has seen him post a 1-4 record with a 10.72 ERA over his last five starts. The Connecticut native was ripped for five runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six in a loss to Colorado in his last outing on Wednesday. Romano is making his first start against Kansas City and is 0-2 with a 7.27 ERA in two career interleague starts.
Kennedy has not won since April 7 but was solid last time out, holding the Los Angeles Angels to one run in five innings without factoring in the decision. Kennedy did issue three walks in that outing and is up to 25 walks and 12 home runs allowed in 65 2/3 total innings. The California native is familiar with Cincinnati from his time in the National League and is 5-1 with a 2.33 ERA in seven career starts against the Reds.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals SS Alcides Escobar is 1-for-22 over his last six games and is batting .218 on the season.
2. Reds 1B Joey Votto went 0-for-0 with four walks on Sunday to boost his on-base percentage to .433.
3. Cincinnati RHP Jared Hughes did not allow a run in any of his last 14 appearances.