Kansas City Royals vs Cincinnati Reds Picks and Predictions May 28th 2025

Greene Returns as Reds Eye Series Sweep

Hunter Greene has already made a name for himself as one of the premier young pitchers in Major League Baseball. On Wednesday night, the Cincinnati right-hander will look to lead the Reds to a sweep of the struggling Kansas City Royals in the finale of a three-game series.

Greene (4-2, 2.54 ERA) was an All-Star in 2024 after posting a 2.75 ERA across 26 starts. He has picked up where he left off, allowing more than two runs in only two of his nine starts this season. In his most recent outing—a 13-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs—Greene returned from a right groin strain and worked four innings, giving up a two-run homer among three hits and two walks.

Despite the short appearance, Greene said he felt good physically. Reds manager Terry Francona noted that Greene was on a pitch count but should be extended further in this game as Cincinnati seeks its fourth win in five contests.

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Cincinnati Bats Staying Hot

The Reds have powered through this series, scoring 14 runs across the first two games. They have plated 28 runs over their last four outings, with Elly De La Cruz hitting two home runs on Tuesday and Tyler Stephenson going deep for a second consecutive game.

TJ Friedl has also been on a tear, collecting three singles Tuesday to notch his fifth straight multi-hit game. Over his last eight games, Friedl is batting .467 (16-for-35), helping spark the Cincinnati offense.

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Royals Rookie Cameron Impresses Despite Team Woes

Noah Cameron, a promising young arm from nearby St. Joseph, Missouri, has emerged as a potential future ace for Kansas City. In his first three major league starts, the left-hander has recorded a stellar 0.93 ERA over 19 1/3 innings. He has allowed just two solo home runs and five other hits, including a strong showing against Minnesota in which he struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro called Friday’s outing Cameron’s best to date, despite the team falling 3-1 in walk-off fashion. Kansas City has scored just four total runs in Cameron’s three starts, a reflection of the team’s continued offensive struggles.

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Kansas City Struggles to Find Offense

Kansas City has lost six of its last seven games at home and has managed to score in only three innings across the first two games of this series. The Royals are averaging just 2.75 runs over their last 16 games, during which they’ve posted a 5-11 record.

Bobby Witt Jr. has been in a slump, hitting only .177 (7-for-41) over his last 10 games. On the flip side, Maikel Garcia has offered a glimmer of hope with a .370 average during a 12-game hitting streak.

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Betting Insight and Final Outlook

Cincinnati enters the series finale with momentum, a red-hot offense, and their ace on the mound. Meanwhile, Kansas City continues to flounder at the plate despite strong efforts from its pitching staff. If Greene can deliver a typical performance and the Reds’ bats stay productive, the sweep is within reach.

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