Sparked by exciting rookie Elly De La Cruz, the Reds are producing runs. If you discount being shut out by Clayton Kershaw, Cincinnati is averaging 6.6 runs in its last five games. 

De La Cruz is one of the top prospects in baseball. He hasn't disappointed. Since being called up six games ago, De La Cruz is batting .364, has five walks, three stolen bases, a .481 on-base percentage and a 1.117 OPS. He has three extra base hits and four RBI's. 

Only eight teams are averaging more runs per game than the Reds. 

This isn't good news for Zack Grienke, who is 1-6 with a 4.59 ERA. Greinke hasn't been good since 2019. He's merely an innings-eater now collecting a paycheck. Greinke can expect little help from a relief corps that has the second-worst bullpen ERA in back of only the A's at 5.01. 

The Royals have been in a scoring slump. But they should produce their share of runs facing Luke Weaver, who has been plagued by serious arm problems that have rendered him ineffective the past four years. Weaver has a 6.27 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. He's allowed at least four earned runs in six of his nine starts, averaging five innings per outing.