Reds' Brady Singer looks to right ship in first start vs. Kansas City

The Cincinnati Reds acquired Brady Singer to provide durability to their pitching staff after being a dependable starter for the Kansas City Royals.

Though it's been a stilted start to his Reds' tenure, Singer should be amped for a return to Kansas City when Cincinnati tries for a second straight win over the struggling Royals on Tuesday night.

Singer (5-3, 4.88 ERA) spent his first five major-league seasons as a Royal and, while he posted just one winning campaign in Kansas City, he made at least 24 starts in each of the last four. Singer, who was honored for his Royals service with a video tribute in Monday's series opener, set career highs in 2024 for starts (32), innings (179 2/3) and strikeouts (170).

All were key factors in the Reds trading talented second baseman Jonathan India -- a college teammate and good friend of Singer -- for the right-hander during the offseason. Coming back to Kansas City this week already has been emotional for Singer, who understands where his focus needs to be.

"I'm still here to do a job," Singer said. "Put the emotions on the backburner. Enjoy it ... but (Tuesday) we're going to work to win a game."

As a Red, Singer went 4-1 and posted a 3.24 ERA in his first six starts, but has gone 1-2 with a 7.85 ERA in his four since.

Singer allowed four walks and five hits on Wednesday at Pittsburgh in his last outing, but only two runs while grinding out five innings of a 3-1 loss.

"Just trying to battle," Singer said. "That's what I've kind of been doing the past couple of outings. Just trying to make pitches. Work through it."

India, the NL Rookie of the Year for Cincinnati in 2021, never achieved the same success over the next four seasons. He is 2-for-5 with a walk against his buddy.

"I don't know how to explain it until I'm in that moment -- him in the red, I'm in the blue," India told MLB.com. "All we can do is just be ourselves and push forward."

India is 2-for-21 in the last six contests, with one of those hits coming in Kansas City's 7-4 loss on Monday. The Reds got seven solid innings from Nick Martinez and three hits, including a two-run homer, from Tyler Stephenson to win for the second time in three games after losing three straight.

Kansas City's Vinnie Pasquantino had three hits Monday and is batting .425 during a 10-game hitting streak. Teammate Maikel Garcia is batting .381 during his 11-game hitting streak.

However, the Royals have been held to fewer than five runs 13 times during their current 5-10 rut.

"We've got to be better than that," Pasquantino said.

The Royals appear set for a bullpen game Tuesday, with Daniel Lynch IV (3-1, 1.57 ERA) getting the ball first according to MLB.com.

Kansas City pitchers will again try to contain Cincinnati's TJ Friedl, who has recorded four straight two-hit games. He's batting .419 over his last seven contests. Teammate Austin Hays had a triple with an RBI on Monday and is batting .321 in 29 games this season.

The Reds have split their last four games, but totaled 27 runs in the process.

"Very encouraging," Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said.