An apparatus comprises a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is structured to determine that a combustion cylinder is operating in a transition period between an exhaust stroke and an intake stroke of the combustion cylinder. The second circuit is structured to provide an injection command during the transition period to a fuel injector associated with the combustion cylinder, the injection command being to inject fuel into a combustion chamber of the combustion cylinder such that at least a portion of the fuel escapes from the combustion chamber through an exhaust port of the combustion cylinder.