Cincinnati Reds @ Kansas City Royals - May 28, 2025

As a retired coach with countless games and strategies etched into my memory, I find myself intrigued by the matchup we have on the horizon: the Cincinnati Reds taking on the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Both teams come into this game hungry for victory, but each is approaching it from different angles.

Starting for the Reds is Hunter Greene, who has had an impressive season thus far with a 4-2 record and a solid 3.8 ERA. His strikeout rate sits at about 8.2 per game, which certainly suggests he can miss bats and keep hitters guessing. However, as any seasoned coach will tell you, there’s always more than meets the eye in baseball. While Greene’s numbers are commendable, his consistency will be crucial today against a Royals lineup that has been finding its footing.

On the other side of the diamond, Noah Cameron takes the mound for Kansas City. Despite being just 1-1 this season, his ERA of 3.1 indicates he’s been effective when called upon—he’s no slouch on that mound either with an average of 8 strikeouts per game. This left-hander may not have an extensive win-loss record yet but his capability to neutralize batters could swing today’s contest in favor of the Royals if he finds his groove early.

Now let’s talk offense because that’s where it gets interesting! The Reds have shown they can put runs on the board consistently—averaging around 4.6 runs per game with a batting average hovering just below .240 and getting on base nearly 69% of the time through slugging percentage metrics. Their recent form speaks volumes; they’ve managed to notch wins while hitting over their total line in five consecutive games—a sure sign they’re finding offensive rhythm.

Conversely, Kansas City’s offense has been steadier than many give them credit for; they score approximately 3.3 runs per game and boast solid hit production at just above 8 hits per game despite struggling to maintain a higher batting average (.241). Still, they’ve shown flashes of brilliance during critical moments which can’t be discounted—their ability to capitalize on mistakes from opposing pitchers could be pivotal today.

The previous outing ended unfavorably for Kansas City; losing decisively at home tends to fuel competitive fire amongst players—and trust me when I say teams often find ways to rally after tough losses like that one (a resounding defeat last week against these same Reds).

With oddsmakers favoring Cincinnati slightly as -113 moneyline favorites and setting an over/under at eight total runs for this contest, I’m inclined toward expecting fireworks again today—not unlike those thrilling moments I’ve witnessed throughout my coaching career where outcomes hinge upon key performances.

For today’s prediction? I’ll lean towards Kansas City turning things around on their home turf—getting that elusive W under their belts—and I’d expect another high-scoring affair leading us comfortably over that total mark as both offenses look to capitalize off any pitching missteps.

So strap in folks; it’s going to be quite a show down at Kauffman!