Sunday’s 7-3 loss to the Astros made sure of that -- but the six games at Kauffman Stadium this past week felt like what the Royals needed to get back on track.

The Reds, now 15-13, open a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on Monday.

To make room on the 26-man roster, catcher Braxton Fulford was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. Also, oft-injured lefty ...