Greinke makes return to Kansas City in series opener

Zack Greinke returns to Kansas City this evening when the Milwaukee Brewers start a three-game set with the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

A first round draft pick of Kansas City back in 2002, Greinke was an American League Cy Young Award winner for the Royals in 2009, but the team traded him to Milwaukee following the 2010 season.

In six-plus seasons with Kansas City, Greinke posted a 60-67 mark with a 3.82 ERA.

Greinke has pitched extraordinarily well at home since arriving in Milwaukee, going a perfect 15-0 at Miller Park. However, the road has been a different story and this season he is 3-2 away from home with a 5.93 ERA. But, in his three road wins, Greinke has pitched to a sparkling 0.95 ERA.

"It'd be nice to get (Greinke) back in Kansas City and beat up on him a little bit," Royals outfielder Mitch Maier said. "We know he's capable, but hopefully he makes some mistakes and we take advantage of it."

Greinke followed up a road win in Los Angeles on May 31 by beating the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday with a spectacular effort that saw him scatter two hits in seven scoreless innings. He also struck out a season-high 12 batters and improved to 7-2 on the year to go along with a 3.12 ERA.

"Sure, he's going to be amped, maybe a little bit more, but I think he liked it [in Kansas City], he was comfortable there and he knows what he needs to do in every start," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said of his ace's return to KC. "I expect him to be pretty much the same guy."

The Brewers have started to rebound from an awful start and have won four of five to move four games under .500. Milwaukee took two of three from San Diego over the weekend, culminating with a 6-5 win on Sunday.

Kansas City, meanwhile, was swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend and has dropped four in a row overall. The Royals are also a miserable 1-5 in interleague play this season.

"We're not getting it done," manager Ned Yost said after his team's 3-2 loss on Sunday. "Make up all the excuses you want. We've just got to get hits with runners in scoring position. I'm done with making excuses."

Getting the call for the Royals tonight will be righty Luis Mendoza, who gets the start in place of the injured Felipe Paulino. Paulino left his start on Wednesday with a strained groin. Mendoza relieved him in that one and allowed two runs in five innings.

He is 2-3 on the year with a 5.36 ERA.

This is Milwaukee's first trip to Kansas City since 2006, but the Brewers took two of three from the Royals the last time the teams met in 2007.