Kansas City Royals at St. Louis Cardinals odds, picks and predictions
Kansas City Royals at St. Louis Cardinals odds, picks and predictions
The Kansas City Royals (31-29) and the St. Louis Cardinals (33-26) open a 3-game interleague series at Busch Stadium Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET. Let's analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Royals vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Cardinals lead 2-1
The Royals are coming off of back-to-back 1-0 pitchers' duels at home against the Detroit Tigers over the weekend. They won one behind RHP Michael Wacha Saturday, while LHP Kris Bubic was on the short end of a hard-luck loss Sunday despite 7 strong innings.
Despite Sunday's shutout loss, C Salvador Perez was able to collect 3 hits in 4 at-bats, while SS Bobby Witt Jr. had the team's only extra-base hit in his 4 at-bats.
The Cardinals were run over in Arlington in an interleague series with the Texas Rangers over the weekend. While St. Louis did win 2-0 in the middle game behind RHP Sonny Gray Saturday, the Cards were flattened 11-1 in the series opener Friday, while falling 8-1 in Sunday's series finale. 1B Willson Contreras drove in the only run Sunday, a 2-out RBI single in the top of the first inning.
The Over has cashed at a 4-1 clip in the past 5 games for the Cardinals, while St. Louis is a healthy 6-3 in the past 9 games since May 23.
The Royals have dropped 6 of the past 9 outings since May 23, while losing 3 straight series. The Under is on a 3-1 run in the previous 4 outings.
These teams met May 16-18 in Kansas City, with the Cardinals winning 10-3 in the series opener as moderate underdogs (+130) and 1-0 in the middle game as slight 'dogs (+100). The Royals salvaged the finale behind Wacha, the former Cardinal, cashing at even-money (+100) as the Under (8) hit for a second straight meeting.
Royals at Cardinals projected starters
RHP Michael Lorenzen vs. RHP Andre Pallante
Lorenzen (3-6, 4.33 ERA) makes his 12th start. He has a 1.40 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 7.5 K/9 in 62 1/3 innings.
Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 6 ER, 11 H (1 HR), 3 BB, 2 K in 7-4 home setback vs. Cincinnati Reds May 26
2025 road starts: 1-5, 5.17 ERA (38 1/3 IP, 22 ER), 1.46 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 8 HR in 7 starts
2024 vs. Cardinals: 1 home start (Aug. 9), no-decision, 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H (2 HR), 2 BB, 3 K in 8-5 loss
Career vs. Cardinals: 4-3, 2.51 ERA (61 IP, 17 ER), 1.25 WHIP, 7.5 K/9, 4 HR in 3 starts and 33 relief appearances
Pallante (4-3, 4.23 ERA) makes his 13th start. He has a 1.36 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9 and 6.1 K/9 in 61 2/3 innings.
Last start: No-decision, 5 2/3 IP, 3 ER (4 R), 6 H (1 HR), 3 BB, 8 K in 7-4 road win vs. Baltimore Orioles May 27
2025 home stats: 2-1, 3.86 ERA (21 IP, 9 ER), 1 HR, 12 BB, 11 K in 4 starts
2025 vs. Royals: 1 road start (May 16), win, 7 IP, 2 ER, 7 H (1 HR), 0 BB, 4 K in 10-3 victory
Career vs. Royals: 1-1, 3.86 ERA (21 IP, 9 ER), 2 HR, 5 BB, 13 K in 3 starts and 1 relief appearance
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Royals at Cardinals odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 8:01 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML) : Royals +124 (bet $100 to win $124) | Cardinals -146 (bet $146 to win $100)
: Royals +124 (bet $100 to win $124) | Cardinals -146 (bet $146 to win $100) Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS) : Royals +1.5 (-176) | Cardinals -1.5 (+146)
: Royals +1.5 (-176) | Cardinals -1.5 (+146) Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -120 | U: -102)
Royals at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Cardinals 5, Royals 3
The CARDINALS (-146) are worth playing lightly behind Pallante, as he has pitched pretty well at home, while managing to keep the ball in the yard. The latter part is key.
Lorenzen has struggled everywhere lately, and he was shaky in his first appearance this season against the Cardinals, while allowing a pair of big flies.
If you're a little more on the adventurous side, CARDINALS -1.5 (+146) is worth a roll of the dice at plus-money.
While each of the last 2 meetings between these Show-Me State rivals was decided by just 1 run, the Cardinals have won by an average of 2.33 runs per game in the past 3 victories since May 27.
The Royals, on the other hand, are 10-3 in their last 13 games as underdogs on the run line, so tread lightly.
UNDER 8.5 (-102) is worth playing lightly, but go with a half-unit play at most.
While the Cardinals have cashed high in 4 of the past 5 games, the Under cashed in 2 of the 3 meetings with the Royals earlier this season. And, the Under has a slight 5-4-1 edge in the past 10 starts by Pallante, including 2-1 in his past 3 at home.
The Under is 3-1 in the past 4 games for the Royals, while going 5-3 in the past 8 interleague battles. The Under is 6-2 in the past 8 outings on the road, too.
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