In tonight’s battle between the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals, the stakes are clear. The Reds aim to complete the sweep and keep some serious after two dominant victories and explosive offense over the last five games. While the Royals, struggling offensively something terrific, must find a way to prevent the Reds’ from rolling over their winning-record season. With Hunter Greene (4-2, 2.54 ERA) on the mound for Cincinnati and Noah Cameron (1-1, 0.93 ERA) stepping up for Kansas City, expect a pitching duel that could tilt the game in either direction. Below, I’ve got my preview, prediction, and best bet for this Wednesday night baseball game between the Royals and the Reds.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
Royals vs. Reds prediction, preview
The Reds are poised to cap off a dominant series sweep over the Royals tonight. With Hunter Greene (4-2, 2.54 ERA) taking the mound, Cincinnati looks to continue its momentum after two commanding victories. Kansas City, on the other hand, is reeling from a pair of losses, and they’ll need to dig deep to avoid the sweep.
Greene has been nothing short of stellar this season, posting a ridiculous 2.54 ERA and an elite 0.85 WHIP. His fastball velocity has been up (98.7 mph) and, with it, his strikeout rate—sitting at a robust 32.6%. He’s allowed just eight homers this year, with most damage coming from long balls. That’s not a huge issue in Kauffman Stadium, one of the toughest places to hit the long ball. With the Royals ranking dead last in homers and struggling to make contact against high-velocity pitchers, Greene’s power stuff should keep them in check.
On the other side, Noah Cameron (1-1, 0.93 ERA) has been impressive, with his 0.67 WHIP and limited exposure. He’s allowed just two earned runs in his 19.1 innings, but he’s been walking a thin line with control. Cameron’s impressive numbers don’t hide his rawness, and tonight, he’ll face one of the toughest lineups in baseball. Elly De La Cruz is on fire, with a five-game hitting streak and three homers in that stretch. TJ Friedl has been hitting .500 over his last five games. Cameron will need to pitch above his head to keep this offense quiet, and history suggests that’s a tall order.
The Royals have been underwhelming on offense, ranking near the bottom in runs (27th) and home runs (30th). With a .300 OBP, they’ve been consistently unable to manufacture offense, especially against strong pitchers like Greene. Their struggles with high-velocity pitchers, paired with Greene’s stuff, should make for a long night. Kansas City’s pitching staff, while solid, can’t be relied upon to shut down the Reds for an entire game—especially in such a hitter-unfriendly park.
Not to mention: key batters who call the K home are struggling. Bobby Witt Jr. is in a funk, with just one extra-base hit in his last 10 games, and Vinnie Pasquantino’s power has gone cold, hitting only .210 in his last 15 games. Even Salvador Perez, typically a consistent force, has been quiet, with only two RBIs in his past eight games. This lack of production will make it tough for Kansas City to break through Greene’s dominance.
Reds vs. Royals pick, best bet
Sure, the Royals have a solid bullpen and Cameron has shown flashes of brilliance. But this lineup doesn’t have the firepower to break through Greene’s dominance. Even if Cameron holds his own early, the Reds’ depth will shine through. With Greene on the mound, the Reds should keep the Royals at bay while De La Cruz and the rest of the lineup will do just enough to get it done.
Betting Insights: The Reds are 6-0 in their last six games against American League teams, and 6-0 on the road vs. Kansas City. Meanwhile, the Royals are 1-4 in their last five games overall and have been underwhelming at home. Greene’s elite numbers and the Reds’ consistent offense make this one feel like a near lock.
We go again. De La Cruz is a superstar.
Best bet: Reds (-120) at Royals
Reds might score 6+ in six straight tonight—tail it with me in the DKN Betting Group here!
