The Kansas City Royals will travel a few hours down I-70 to face off against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to televise this interleague matchup and the action gets going at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Oddsmakers are listing St. Louis (-200) as the favorite over Kansas City (+185). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -120 for over 8.5 runs and +100 for under 8.5. You can also bet on the game’s runline with the most recent odds standing at Royals +1.5 runs (-120) and Cardinals +-1.5 runs (+100).
The Royals have gone just 14-32 SU this year and are 20-25 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 13.3 units for moneyline bettors over the early portions of the season and 8.9 units ATS. Kansas City is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are 25-19 SU and 20-23 ATS. They’ve gained 0.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 3.8 units ATS. St. Louis has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
St. Louis games have an over/under record of 18-22-3 so far in 2018. The Royals have been a decent under bet with a total record of 18-25-2.
Ian Kennedy will get the start for Kansas City. The right-handed Kennedy is 1-4 with a 4.98 ERA and 45 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Cardinals this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-1, 9.00 ERA and five strikeouts over six innings).
The Cardinals are handing the ball to righty Miles Mikolas (5-0, 2.63 ERA), who’s got 37 strikeouts and five walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 1.05. Mikolas did not pitch in the majors in 2017.
As a unit, St. Louis’ pitchers have given up 3.8 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have an ERA of 3.07, a WHIP of 1.22 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.1. The bullpen has a 4.10 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 8.3 K/9.
St. Louis’ hitters are putting up 4.5 runs per contest, including 4.8 per game over its last 10 games and 6.4 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .314/.381/.486 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Right fielder Tommy Pham and first baseman Jose Martinez have led the Cardinals’ offense this year. Pham is slashing .312/.419/.532 with eight home runs, 19 RBIs, 35 runs and eight stolen bases, and Martinez’s line is .313/.383/.481 with five homers, 30 RBIs and 17 runs.
Pham seemed to have a little trouble hitting righties at home in 2017. Over 183 such plate appearances, he slashed .257/.377/.355 (compared to his overall season line of .306/.411/.520).
For the visitors, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.8 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.59 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.13 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.47, along with a WHIP of 1.44.
Royals hitters have slashed .256/.323/.387 on their way to 4.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Kansas City’s offense has been led by right fielder Jorge Soler and third baseman Mike Moustakas, who collectively have launched 15 home runs. Soler is slashing .297/.401/.486 with five home runs, 20 RBIs and 20 runs scored, while Moustakas (.294/.333/.528) is up to 10 homers, 31 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .144/.245/.258, Soler seemed to take a step back when hitting right-handed pitching on the road last season, maintaining a slash line of .103/.235/.138 across 34 such plate appearances.
The Royals have lost 16.1 units and are 9-18 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 11 of those games, compared to 14 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Cardinals have lost 3.1 units and are 12-19 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 13 of those games, compared to 15 that’ve cashed the under.
Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Royals have lost seven of their last eight games SU.
St. Louis has posted 23.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 28.4 over its last five.
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