The Kansas City Royals will head a few hours east to play the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. This interleague showdown will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET and fans hoping to watch it can tune in to Fox Sports Kansas City.
Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Kansas City (+155) is entering this game as the underdog to St. Louis (-165) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this game at 9.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total currently stand at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. The game’s most recent runline odds stand at -140 for betting the Royals +1.5 runs and +120 for the Cardinals -1.5.
The Cardinals are 24-23 straight up (SU) and 25-22 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 3.5 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 3.0 units ATS. The Royals have gone 16-31 SU this year and are 22-25 against the spread. In total, the team’s lost 9.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline through the early part of the season and 9.2 units ATS.
St. Louis games have had an over/under record of 23-21-3 so far in 2019. The Royals have an over/under record of 24-20-3.
Right-hander Homer Bailey will get the start for the visiting Royals. Bailey is 4-4 with a 5.36 ERA and 42 strikeouts. He has yet to face St. Louis this year, but he made four starts against the Cardinals in 2018, posting a 0-2 record against them with a 4.07 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
The Cardinals are planning to start righty Michael Wacha (3-1, 4.93 ERA), who has 39 strikeouts and 26 walks, along with a 1.64 WHIP. Wacha only made one start against the Royals in 2018 (0-0, 1.35 ERA and six strikeouts across six and 2-third innings).
As a unit, St. Louis’ pitchers have given up 4.6 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have a 4.58 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 10.6 K/9.
St. Louis’ hitters are putting up 5.0 runs per contest, including 5.6 per game over its last 10 games and 3.4 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .208/.300/.345 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Cardinals’ hitters have been led by shortstop Paul DeJong and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. DeJong is hitting .320/.408/.562 with eight home runs, 26 RBIs and 38 runs scored, while Goldschmidt’s line is .254/.354/.442 with 10 homers, 24 RBIs and 32 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.33 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 7.52 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.96, along with a K-per-9 of 8.72.
Royals hitters have slashed .244/.321/.413 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game this year, 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).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and shortstop Adalberto Mondesi have led Kansas City’s hitters. Merrifield is hitting .290/.349/.508 with six home runs, 22 RBIs, 36 runs and seven stolen bases, while Mondesi (.280/.315/.478) is up to five homers, 37 RBIs, 26 runs and 17 steals.
The Royals have lost 7.3 units and are 15-19 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 19 of those games, compared to 13 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Cardinals have netted 0.8 units and are 22-17 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 19 of those games, compared to 18 that went under the total.
Royals vs. Cardinals MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in four of St. Louis’ last seven games.
- The Royals have a team OPS of .734 this season and an OPS of .757 when facing right-handed pitchers. The Cardinals’ OPS stands at .761 overall and .775 versus righties.
- Kansas City has recorded 18.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 18.8 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.
