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After snatching victory from the jaws of defeat last night<\/a>, the Cincinnati Reds (31-29) look to earn a series win over the Kansas City Royals (23-38) Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park. Chase Burns takes the mound for the Reds, while Stephen Kolek gets the ball for the Royals.<\/p>\n First pitch is at 7:10 PM EDT.<\/p>\n Stephen Kolek has only been with Royals for about a month in 2026, but he had pitched in the big leagues for the Padres in 2025 and then Kansas City once being traded at the deadline. The 27-year-old right-hander made his season debut on May 5. He didn\u2019t start his season very well, allowing eight runs in 10.2 innings over two starts, but made his case to stay in the rotation by allowing no runs on four hits against St. Louis and then pitching a complete game shutout against Seattle on May 23. In his last start against the Texas Rangers, he gave up four earned runs on six hits over five innings.<\/p>\n Kolek is not a high strikeout pitcher, but he also does not walk a lot of batters. At 5.0%, his BB% ranks in the top 94% in MLB. This means he\u2019s pitching to contact, and his 48.4% GB% reflects that. This is actually down from a year ago, but his HardHit% is also down to 35.8% from a year ago when it was 47.5%. Kolek does have some interesting home and away splits. At Kauffman Stadium, he has a 1.80 ERA through 15.0 innings, while he has a 5.06 in 16.0 innings on the road. Now, that home ERA was helped by the complete game shutout against the Mariners, but five of the six walks and three of the four home runs allowed have come on the road.<\/p>\n Splits<\/strong><\/p>\n Pitch Usage <\/strong><\/p>\n Burns was pushed back a couple days in the rotation due to illness, but he\u2019s feeling better and back on the mound tonight. In Burns\u2019 last start, he struck out eight over 5.1 innings at Citi Field, and is coming off a month of May where he allowed only four runs in 30.1 innings over five starts. His slider is still his signature pitch, with a whiff rate of 53.2% and having recorded 50 of his 72 strikeouts with it.<\/p>\n Burns struggles more against lefties, especially allowing walks to them. His on-base percentage against lefties (.319) is significantly higher than against right-handed hitters. Of the 20 walks he\u2019s allowed this season, 18 of them have been to left-handed hitters. Six of the eight home runs he\u2019s given up have also been to lefties.<\/p>\n Splits<\/strong><\/p>\n Pitch Usage<\/strong><\/p>\n Roster Moves<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s been a daily occurrence lately, and today was no exception. The Reds optioned TJ Friedl to Triple-A today and called up Noelvi Marte, who has been scorching hot at the plate for Louisville.<\/a><\/p>\n National League Player of the Month<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nLineups<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n \n Kansas City Royals<\/span>
<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n\n Cincinnati Reds<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n Carter Jensen \u2013 C<\/strong><\/td>\n Blake Dunn \u2013 CF<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Bobby Witt Jr. \u2013 SS<\/strong><\/td>\n JJ Bleday \u2013 LF<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Vinnie Pasquantino \u2013 1B<\/strong><\/td>\n Sal Stewart \u2013 1B<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Salvador Perez \u2013 DH<\/strong><\/td>\n Nathaniel Lowe \u2013 DH<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Jac Caglianone \u2013 RF<\/strong><\/td>\n Eugenio Su\u00e1rez \u2013 3B<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Isaac Collins \u2013 LF<\/strong><\/td>\n Spencer Steer \u2013 2B<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Michael Massey \u2013 2B<\/strong><\/td>\n Will Benson \u2013 RF<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Nick Loftin \u2013 3B<\/strong><\/td>\n Tyler Stephenson \u2013 C<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Kyle Isbel \u2013 CF<\/strong><\/td>\n Matt McLain \u2013 SS<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Starting Pitchers<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Stephen Kolek<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
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\n Split<\/strong><\/td>\n PA<\/strong><\/td>\n H<\/strong><\/td>\n 2B<\/strong><\/td>\n 3B<\/strong><\/td>\n HR<\/strong><\/td>\n BB%<\/strong><\/td>\n K%<\/strong><\/td>\n AVG<\/strong><\/td>\n OBP<\/strong><\/td>\n SLG<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n RHH<\/td>\n 40<\/td>\n 8<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n 5%<\/td>\n 10%<\/td>\n .216<\/td>\n .275<\/td>\n .432<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n LHH<\/td>\n 81<\/td>\n 15<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n 5%<\/td>\n 19%<\/td>\n .195<\/td>\n .235<\/td>\n .312<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\n
\n \n 4-Seam<\/strong><\/td>\n 2-Seam<\/strong><\/td>\n Change<\/strong><\/td>\n Cutter<\/strong><\/td>\n Slider<\/strong><\/td>\n Sweeper<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Velo<\/td>\n 94.1<\/td>\n 93.5<\/td>\n 87.2<\/td>\n 89.9<\/td>\n 85.1<\/td>\n 79.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Usage<\/td>\n 29.9%<\/td>\n 21.6%<\/td>\n 14.8%<\/td>\n 13.1%<\/td>\n 10.9%<\/td>\n 9.6%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Chase Burns<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
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\n Split<\/strong><\/td>\n PA<\/strong><\/td>\n H<\/strong><\/td>\n 2B<\/strong><\/td>\n 3B<\/strong><\/td>\n HR<\/strong><\/td>\n BB%<\/strong><\/td>\n K%<\/strong><\/td>\n AVG<\/strong><\/td>\n OBP<\/strong><\/td>\n SLG<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n RHH<\/td>\n 107<\/td>\n 15<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n 2%<\/td>\n 28%<\/td>\n .143<\/td>\n .159<\/td>\n .229<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n LHH<\/td>\n 142<\/td>\n 27<\/td>\n 6<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 6<\/td>\n 13%<\/td>\n 30%<\/td>\n .220<\/td>\n .319<\/td>\n .415<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\n
\n \n 4-Seam<\/strong><\/td>\n Slider<\/strong><\/td>\n Change<\/strong><\/td>\n Curve<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Velo<\/td>\n 98.0<\/td>\n 90.9<\/td>\n 90.0<\/td>\n 81.9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Usage<\/td>\n 57.2%<\/td>\n 36.4%<\/td>\n 6.4%<\/td>\n 0.1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Game Details:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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News and Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n