As the 2026 MLB Spring Training gets into full swing, the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals will face off in a Cactus League matchup tomorrow, February 25.
Both teams had meaningful seasons last year, fiercely competing for postseason spots in the National League and American League, respectively.
Cincinnati's acquisition of Brady Singer from Kansas City has created a special connection between the two clubs, and expectations are high to see what both teams will look like heading into the new season.
Game Overview
| Category | Details |
| Event | 2026 MLB Spring Training (Cactus League) |
| Date & Time | February 25, 2026 (Wed) 5:05 AM KST |
| Venue | Goodyear Ballpark (Goodyear, Arizona) |
| Home Team | Cincinnati Reds |
| Away Team | Kansas City Royals |
| Broadcast | MLB.TV |
Goodyear Ballpark is a Spring Training facility shared by the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians.
With over 8,000 fixed seats and a lawn area accommodating 1,500, it offers a relaxed atmosphere for enjoying baseball.
As this is an early Spring Training game, starters may see limited innings, but it provides a great opportunity to get a preview of both teams' rosters as they prepare for the new season.
Cincinnati Reds - 2025 Season Review & 2026 Outlook
The Cincinnati Reds finished the 2025 season with an 83-79 record, placing third in the NL Central.
They achieved the remarkable feat of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2020, but were eliminated in the Wild Card Series with two straight losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
They showed strength at home with a 45-36 record but struggled on the road at 38-43.
| Category | Details |
| 2025 Season Record | 83-79 (NL Central 3rd) |
| Postseason | Eliminated in NL Wild Card Series (vs LA Dodgers 0-2) |
| Manager | Terry Francona (2nd year) |
| Spring Training Home | Goodyear Ballpark (Goodyear, Arizona) |
Heading into the 2026 season, the Reds' starting rotation looks quite solid.
Ace Hunter Greene posted a dominant 7-4 record with a 2.76 ERA in 2025, while All-Star selection Andrew Abbott went 10-7 with a 2.87 ERA.
Brady Singer, acquired from Kansas City via trade, also anchored the rotation with 14 wins and 163 strikeouts.
With prospects like Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns competing for the fifth starter spot, the rotation's depth has grown significantly.
Kansas City Royals - 2025 Season Review & 2026 Outlook
The Kansas City Royals finished the 2025 season with an 82-80 record, placing third in the AL Central.
Compared to their 86-win season in 2024 that earned them a Wild Card berth, the results were somewhat disappointing.
They posted a 43-38 record at home and 39-42 on the road, showing a relatively balanced performance overall.
| Category | Details |
| 2025 Season Record | 82-80 (AL Central 3rd) |
| Postseason | Did not qualify |
| Manager | Matt Quatraro (3rd year) |
| Spring Training Home | Surprise Stadium (Surprise, Arizona) |
The Royals' 2026 starting rotation is expected to consist of Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Kris Bubic, Michael Wacha, and Noah Cameron.
Cole Ragans in particular made only 13 starts in 2025 due to injury, but demonstrated his resilience after returning in September, posting a 2.77 ERA over three starts.
Seth Lugo had a somewhat disappointing 4.15 ERA in 2025, but has been working on pitching mechanics adjustments during the offseason to bounce back.
The bullpen features Carlos Estevez, Lucas Erceg, Matt Strahm, and Alex Lange, forming a solid relief corps.
Head-to-Head Record
The Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals belong to the National League and American League respectively, so they don't meet often during the regular season.
In the all-time interleague series, the Royals hold a slight edge at 21-19, and have won the last three consecutive meetings.
| Category | Cincinnati | Kansas City |
| All-Time Interleague | 19 wins | 21 wins |
| Recent Win Streak | - | 3 consecutive wins |
| Postseason Matchups | None | |
Of course, Spring Training results are independent of regular season records, but they serve as a meaningful indicator of each team's condition as they prepare for the season.
Given that the two teams are directly linked through last season's Brady Singer trade, this Spring Training matchup carries special significance.
Spring Training Starting Rotation Outlook
With Spring Training still in its early stages, neither team has officially announced their starting pitcher for this game.
However, a look at each team's rotation competition gives us some clues as to who might take the mound.
| Team | Key Starting Rotation | 5th Starter Competition |
| Cincinnati | Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, Rhett Lowder | Chase Burns, Julian Aguiar, Brandon Williamson |
| Kansas City | Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Kris Bubic, Michael Wacha | Steven Collek, Ryan Burget, Bailey Falter |
In the early stages of Spring Training, pitchers competing for rotation spots often get the call before established starters.
Cincinnati has Chase Burns, Julian Aguiar, and Brandon Williamson fiercely competing for the fifth starter spot, so their appearances are expected.
Kansas City also has young arms like Steven Collek, Ryan Burget, and Luinder Avila looking for opportunities, so fans can expect to see a variety of pitchers on display.
Key Player - Elly De La Cruz (Cincinnati)
Cincinnati's franchise star Elly De La Cruz showcased remarkable durability in 2025, playing in all 162 games.
He hit .264 with 22 home runs, 86 RBI, and 37 stolen bases, proving his ability as a five-tool player.
However, he endured a significant slump in the second half, going 43 consecutive games without a home run from August 1 through September 18, with his August OPS dropping to a career-low .575.
| Player | AVG | HR | RBI | SB | OPS |
| Elly De La Cruz | .264 | 22 | 86 | 37 | .776 |
His struggles against breaking pitches were identified as the main cause of his second-half slump, but on the positive side, he reduced his total strikeouts to 181.
Defensively, he recorded the most errors in the majors (26) for the second straight year, an area that still needs improvement.
A key storyline this Spring Training is how much De La Cruz has improved his breaking ball recognition and defensive consistency.
Key Player - Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City)
Kansas City's franchise star Bobby Witt Jr. once again proved himself as the premier shortstop in the league during the 2025 season.
He batted .295 with a .351 OBP and .501 SLG, leading all of MLB with 184 hits and 47 doubles.
Adding 23 home runs and 38 stolen bases, he became the first player in MLB history to record 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases in each of his first four seasons.
| Player | AVG | HR | RBI | SB | fWAR |
| Bobby Witt Jr. | .295 | 23 | - | 38 | 8.0 |
Defensively, he won the AL Gold Glove at shortstop for the second consecutive year, recording 20 Runs Saved.
He finished fourth in AL MVP voting, demonstrating excellence on both sides of the ball.
This Spring Training, Witt Jr. is expected to focus on regaining the power that dipped from 32 home runs in 2024 to 23 in 2025.
Additional Key Player Comparison
| Team | Player | 2025 Key Stats |
| Cincinnati | Hunter Greene (P) | 7-4, ERA 2.76, 132K, WHIP 0.94 |
| Cincinnati | Andrew Abbott (P) | 10-7, ERA 2.87, 149K, All-Star |
| Cincinnati | Gavin Lux (IF) | AVG .269, 5HR, 53RBI, OBP .350 |
| Kansas City | Vinnie Pasquantino (1B) | AVG .264, 32HR, 113RBI, OPS .798 |
| Kansas City | Cole Ragans (P) | 3-3, ERA 4.67, 98K (13 games due to injury) |
| Kansas City | Seth Lugo (P) | 8-7, ERA 4.15, 125K |
Cincinnati's starting pitching staff is regarded as one of the best in the league.
Hunter Greene's slider was one of the most dominant pitches in MLB during the 2025 season, allowing zero hits, recording 13 strikeouts, and generating a 54.1% whiff rate over 112 pitches.
Kansas City's Vinnie Pasquantino set a franchise record with home runs in five consecutive games in 2025, establishing himself as the team's top power hitter.
He ranked sixth in the American League with 113 RBI, serving as the cornerstone of the lineup.
Key Matchup Points
1. Brady Singer Facing His Former Team
Brady Singer was traded from Kansas City to Cincinnati along with Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer. In his first season with Cincinnati, he posted 14 wins and 163 strikeouts, proving the trade a success. While it's unlikely he'll take the mound against his former team in Spring Training, this will be an opportunity for both clubs to assess the results of that trade.
2. Prospect Rotation Battle Between Both Teams
Young pitchers like Cincinnati's Chase Burns and Kansas City's Noah Cameron are fiercely competing for the fifth starter spot. Early Spring Training provides a valuable stage for these players to prove themselves, and who takes the mound in this game could signal the direction of each team's rotation competition.
3. De La Cruz vs. Witt Jr. - Next-Generation Shortstop Showdown
If both players are in the lineup, fans will be treated to a matchup between two of MLB's premier next-generation shortstops. Both are five-tool players with exceptional speed and power, and they're sure to captivate fans even in a Spring Training setting.
Key Offseason Moves
| Team | Acquisitions | Departures |
| Cincinnati | Eugenio Suarez, JJ Bleday, Dane Myers | Yosver Zulueta (traded to Seattle) |
| Kansas City | Lane Thomas, Isaac Collins, Nick Mears, Matt Strahm | Angel Zerpa (traded to Milwaukee) |
Cincinnati is operating with a payroll of approximately $126.1 million, a slight increase from last season, as they made targeted roster improvements.
Kansas City added Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins to the outfield and bolstered the bullpen with Nick Mears and Matt Strahm, making practical and efficient moves.
Both teams have opted to build around their existing core rather than pursuing major free agent signings.
What to Watch For
As this is an early Spring Training game, starters will likely be limited to three or four innings.
Nonetheless, there are several noteworthy storylines to follow in this matchup.
First, watch for the pitchers competing for the fifth starter spot. The performance of prospects like Cincinnati's Chase Burns and Kansas City's Steven Collek will have a significant impact on each team's rotation decisions.
Second, keep an eye on how offseason acquisitions adapt to their new uniforms. Players like Cincinnati's Eugenio Suarez and Kansas City's Lane Thomas will be under the spotlight as they settle in with their new teams.
Third, the first Spring Training appearances of Elly De La Cruz and Bobby Witt Jr., two of MLB's brightest young shortstops, are not to be missed.
Game Prediction
In Spring Training, conditioning and regaining game-readiness matter far more than wins and losses, so precise game predictions hold little significance.
That said, comparing overall talent, Cincinnati holds an edge in starting rotation depth.
The 1-2-3 combination of Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, and Brady Singer ranks among the best in all of MLB.
Kansas City's strength lies in the offensive firepower centered around Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino, while a healthy return by Cole Ragans will be the key variable determining their season outlook.
This Spring Training matchup will serve as the first litmus test for gauging both teams' 2026 season prospects.
As Spring Training signals the start of the 2026 season, anticipation is building for tomorrow's showdown at Goodyear Ballpark to see what changes and growth both teams will showcase.