 has won all of this starts this season after coming back from a positive test for COVID-19 and hasn't permitted a run in 17 2/3 innings.Pitching in seven-inning game, Keller held the Reds without a hit until Tucker Barnhart looped a single into center field to begin the sixth.''He was special,'' Royals manager Mike Matheny said. ''I think he got into a rhythm where his breaking ball was just as good as his fastball was. He had his fastball going to both sides of the plate. He had it cutting at times and had good sink when he needed it.''He wasn't afraid to go to the changeup. He got a strikeout with it. He keeps building his confidence with all his different pitches, instead of just trying to overpower guys.'' Cincinnati played for the first time since Friday night. The Reds had home games against Pittsburgh called off Saturday and Sunday after a player tested positive for the coronavirus, and the series opener at Kauffman Stadium was postponed Tuesday night while Major League Baseball did additional testing.Keller gave up three hits, struck out five and walked Jesse Winker three times - his only walks in 6 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old righty exited with two on and Trevor Rosenthal retired the only batter he faced for his sixth save.''Honestly my slider was pretty good today,'' Keller said. ''I was able to locate it on the back door to a lot of lefties. Their whole lineup was all lefties. To have that pitch and steal some strikes and get some swings, that was huge.'' Keller missed the start of the regular season as he built up strength after his positive virus test during summer training. But once he was activated, he has been nearly flawless. He pitched five scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs in his first start, followed by six shutout innings at Cincinnati in his last outing.Luis Castillo (0-3) allowed three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, striking out five.The Royals scored three times in the first after leadoff man Whit Merrifield reached on first baseman Joey Votto's error. Jorge Soler hit an RBI double and Ryan O'Hearn snapped an 0-for-10 slump with a two-run single.With the exception of Winker, who came into the game hitting .586 (17 for 29) in his last 10 games, no Reds player reached base until Barnhart's single.TRAINER'S ROOMReds: Former Royals star Mike Moustakas returned to the lineup after being sidelined by a quad strain since Aug. 4. The infielder started the first game as the designated hitter.Royals: C Salvador Perez was held out of the first game with recurring symptoms from fluid in his left eye. He missed Sunday's game, but was in the starting lineup Monday in Minnesota. He came out of that game as blurry vision worsened. He's listed as day-to-day.ROSTER MOVESThe Reds placed CF Nick Senzel on the injured list for undisclosed reasons. He missed time earlier this year because of symptoms of COVID-19.The Royals reinstated RHP Jesse Hahn from the paternity list and designated him as 29th player for the doubleheader.UP NEXTReds: Will send RHP Sonny Gray (4-1, 2.05 ERA) to the mound in the series opener Thursday in St. Louis. He'll be facing Adam Wainwright (2-0, 1.64) for the Cardinals.Royals: Have Thursday off before starting a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Friday.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Reds, Royals to play two after Tuesday's game postponedThe Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals will play a doubleheader Wednesday, as a result of the postponement of Tuesday's scheduled game.In the first game, the Reds will send Luis Castillo to the mound to face the Royals' Brad Keller. Both pitchers will be starting against the same opponent as they did in their last starts in Cincinnati last week, which happened to be their first career appearance against that opponent.In the nightcap, veterans Trevor Bauer of the Indians and Matt Harvey of the Royals will face off in an intriguing matchup.The games will be the Reds' first since their season was put on hold following Friday's 8-1 victory over the Pirates because a player tested positive for COVID-19. Tuesday's delay stretched it one day longer."It's been stressful," Cincinnati catcher Tucker Barnhart said. "Selfishly, I sent my family home because of the unsure nature of everything that's going on. Having to be away from them longer than I anticipated has been tough. But this is what we signed up for, so we have to put it in the rear-view and get ready to play ball." Castillo gave up one earned run on seven hits in six innings, walking two and striking out five, in his start against Kansas City on Aug. 11. The bullpen gave up the lead late before the Reds won in 10 innings.Keller pitched six scoreless innings in a 5-4 Kansas City victory on Aug. 12. So far in 2020, Keller has not allowed an earned run (11 innings pitched in two starts). He's walked five and struck out 10.In the second game, Bauer, the former Cleveland Indians right hander, will face the Royals for the 18th time (17 starts) in his career. He's 5-5 all-time with a 3.69 ERA against Kansas City. He's faced the Royals 10 times in Kauffman Stadium, the second-most appearances for any road park. He's 4-2 with a 3.52 ERA in the home of the Royals.In his last appearance at Kauffman Stadium -- and his last appearance with the Indians before being traded to the Reds prior to the trade deadline last season -- Bauer was frustrated after giving up eight runs (seven earned) in 4 1/3 innings. As Cleveland manager Terry Francona approached the mound, Bauer turned and threw the ball over the center-field wall."I don't remember much positive from the last time I was here," Bauer said Tuesday. "The last memory I have of Kauffman is apologizing to my teammates and getting screamed at. We're going to try to avoid that tomorrow and consider it a win if I'm able to do that." The Royals, meanwhile, will counter with Matt Harvey, who pitched Game 1 of the 2015 World Series in Kauffman Stadium while he was with the Mets. He faced the Royals twice in that World Series, taking a no-decision in each game.He signed a minor league contract with the Royals in late-July and will be activated prior to Wednesday's game. He's thankful for the opportunity, fully aware of the irony."A lot of emotions and excitement," Harvey said of the opportunity to pitch in the majors again. "Obviously I have a little bit of history here. There were probably a little more fans at that game than there will be (Wednesday) night."Everybody I've ever talked to about the organization has said nothing but the best about the organization from the ground up, full of class. I was excited when I got the call from my agent." Harvey has never lost to the Reds, posting a 4-0 career record with a 2.63 ERA in six starts. The four wins are the most against any opponent without a loss.Kansas City manager Mike Matheny is just happy to have him fill a spot in the rotation."You have a guy who's been through this before," he said. "He knows what it should feel like. I'm happy to have him and excited to get him on the mound." --Field Level Media
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