Kansas City @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( May 20, 2015 ) Cincinnati 1, Kansas City 7

The Cincinnati Reds helped provide the Kansas City Royals with a big boost in their effort to get back to the World Series when they completed a trade sending Johnny Cueto to the Royals last month. Kansas City won’t send their new ace to the mound in his former home this week but will try to take advantage of the Reds’ recent rough stretch when the teams meet in Cincinnati for a two-game interleague series beginning Tuesday.

The Royals capped off an 8-2 homestand with a walk-off win Sunday night, and Cueto allowed one run in 17 total innings while claiming a pair of wins in that span. The right-hander is settling in nicely with his new team and Kansas City is running away with the American League Central, heading into play on Monday with a 12-game lead in the division. The Red are trying to fight off the Milwaukee Brewers and stay out of the basement in the National League Central but have dropped nine of 12, including three straight at the Los Angeles Dodgers to close out the weekend. Cincinnati won’t see Cueto this week but will face another Dominican righty who used to pitch for the Reds when Edinson Volquez faces off against Raisel Iglesias on Tuesday.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Kansas City, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Edinson Volquez (11-7, 3.27 ERA) vs. Reds RH Raisel Iglesias (3-4, 4.70)

Volquez had a string of seven straight starts allowing three or fewer earned runs come to an end against Detroit on Wednesday, when he was reached for six runs – five earned – on eight hits and a pair of walks in seven innings. The 32-year-old has gone at least six innings in each of his six starts since the All-Star break. Volquez, who went 17-6 for Cincinnati in 2008, is 1-2 with a 4.84 ERA in six starts against his former team.

Iglesias put together his third straight quality start at San Diego on Wednesday, when he allowed three runs on as many hits while striking out eight in six innings to earn the win. The 25-year-old Cuban rookie has posted 61 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings this season. Iglesias came out of the bullpen at Kansas City on May 20 and was reached for two runs on three hits and a walk without notching a strikeout in one inning.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Royals signed LHP Wandy Rodriguez and RHP Joba Chamberlain to minor-league deals and will start both at Triple-A Omaha.

2. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto is 11-for-23 during a six-game hitting streak.

3. Kansas City 1B Eric Hosmer is batting .417 with 26 RBIs in the last 29 games.

PREDICTION: Royals 6, Reds 2