The St. Louis Cardinals have begun to make a charge up the NL Central standings thanks to a red-hot offense. The Cards, who’ve outscored the Kansas City Royals 21-6 in the first two games of their series, can make it three straight with a win today. Sportsbooks opened the Royals as +117 road underdogs with a total of 8.5.
Trevor Cahill and Mike Leake are expected to get the nod for the Royals and Cardinals. Cahill (4-3, 4.13 ERA) is making his third start for K.C. since being acquired from San Diego and hasn’t picked up a victory since suiting up for his new club. Cahill failed to get through the five-inning mark in his previous two appearances, giving up two runs and six hits over 4.2 innings of work against Seattle and five runs in four frames vs Boston.
Leake (7-10, 3.34) has been going through a rough patch for the majority of the season, as the hurler has dropped eight of his last 10 starts since beating the L.A. Dodgers on May 24. He gave up three runs in each of his last two starts and posted his only win over his last six starts against Colorado on July 24.
Kansas City’s struggles against St. Louis are not new. In the Royals’ previous 10 vs the Cards, they’re 3-7 SU.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The visiting Kansas City Royals were 130 moneyline underdogs in this one earlier in the day at most online sportsbooks including Sportsbook. The total was 9 at Sportsbook for those preferring OVER/UNDER betting.
OddsShark prediction models pick the Cardinals to win this game 6.5-2.4. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming MLB matchups here.
Kansas City Royals vs St. Louis Cardinals Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
St. Louis (57-56) will face the 57-55 Royals in this tilt. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and St. Louis vs Kansas City injuries news.
The MLB Power Rankings show a disparity between these teams, with the St. Louis Cardinals rated this week at No. 5 and the Kansas City Royals sitting at No. 7.
Statistical Matchup
Scoring stats point to some edges in this matchup. The game features the St. Louis Cardinals No. 17-ranked scoring average of 4.58 runs per game, against a Kansas City Royals offense rated No. 23 and scoring 4.35 runs per game. The Cardinals have averaged 8.69 hits per game to date this season, more than the Royals hitters have managed (8.65 per nine innings).
Kansas City brings the No. 14-rated defense to this matchup, facing the Cardinals's No. 5-ranked defense.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Next Betting Matchups
Kansas City at St. Louis, Thursday, August 10