The St. Louis Cardinals are prepared to battle against the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to showcase this interleague matchup and the action gets underway at 7:45 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Homer Bailey is getting the start for Kansas City. The right-handed Bailey is 4-4 with a 5.36 ERA and 42 strikeouts. He has yet to face St. Louis this year, but he did make four starts against the Cardinals in 2018, compiling a 0-2 record against them with a 4.07 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
The Cardinals are sending righty Adam Wainwright (3-4, 4.75 ERA) to the mound. Wainwright has 39 strikeouts and 19 walks to his name, along with a 1.35 WHIP. Wainwright did not register a start against the Royals in 2018.
As a unit, St. Louis’ pitching staff has given up 4.6 runs per game overall in 2019. The club’s starters have an ERA of 4.58, a WHIP of 1.40 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.8. The bullpen has a 4.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 10.6 K/9.
The St. Louis offense has put up 5.0 runs per contest, including 5.6 per game over its last 10 games and 3.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .208/.300/.345 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Paul DeJong has helped lead the Cardinals’ offense this year with eight home runs, 26 RBIs and 38 runs scored.
For the visiting squad, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.33 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 7.52 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.96, along with a WHIP of 1.47.
Royals hitters have slashed .244/.321/.413 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game this season, including 2.9 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Whit Merrifield has led Kansas City’s hitters and is hitting .290/.349/.508 with six home runs, 22 RBIs, 36 runs and seven stolen bases.
The Cardinals are coming off of a 5-4 loss against the Rangers, while the Royals just got a 5-1 victory over the Angels.
Royals vs. Cardinals Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Kansas City has tallied nine extra-base hits over its last five games. St. Louis has 13 XBH over its last five.
- The Royals have hit three home runs in their last 10 games. The Cardinals have hit 11 over their last 10.
- The Royals have a team OPS of .734 this season and an OPS of .757 against right-handed pitchers. The Cardinals’ OPS stands at .761 overall and .775 versus righties.
- St. Louis has posted 23.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 17.4 over its last five.
