The Royals will open a three-game series against the Reds on Monday at Great American Ball Park, and they will do it with Luinder Avila on the mound. Kansas City is bringing up a starter who is not ramped up to handle a full outing, a clear sign that this game may require early bullpen work.
That is why Royals Vs Reds is drawing attention now: both teams arrive in Cincinnati trying to stop the slide that swallowed most of May. Kansas City entered at 22-37 after dropping 18 of 28 games last month, while the Reds were 30-28 after losing 17 of 27 since a hot start that once carried them to first place in the National League Central.
The numbers behind the matchup underline how uneven both clubs have been. The Royals swept Cincinnati in their last visit to the city in 2024 and outscored the Reds 28-3 in that series, but this trip comes after a month in which Kansas City was outplayed across the board. On the mound, the Reds will counter with Chase Burns, who has allowed two runs or fewer in 10 of his 11 starts this year, while Andrew Abbott has been one of Cincinnati's steadier arms despite a 5.28 ERA in six home starts. He gave up four earned runs in 28 innings in May, finished the month with a 1.29 ERA and earned three wins.
The problem for Cincinnati is what happens after the starter leaves. The Reds' bullpen has a 4.98 ERA, fourth-worst in baseball, and closer Emilio Pagán is on the Injured List. Tony Santillan has two saves, and the team called up Brandon Leibrandt on Monday to add depth. At the same time, the Reds will need to replace Elly de la Cruz, who was placed on the Injured List with a hamstring strain, with Edwin Arroyo. De la Cruz's absence strips away one of the club's most dangerous bats just as it is trying to steady a season that looked far better in April than it has in May.
There is still one question that will shape the game itself: how long Avila can hold up before Kansas City has to turn to the bullpen. If the answer is only a few innings, the Royals will be asking relief arms to protect a lead in a series opener that already feels like a survival test for both teams.
