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The Kansas City Royals (49-43) take on the St. Louis Cardinals (48-42) Wednesday in the 2nd game of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium at 7:45 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
(Records, trends and stats do not include the 1st game of Wednesday’s doubleheader.)
Season series: First meeting; they tied 2-2 in 2023
This is a short 2-game series. Tuesday’s opener was rained out and rescheduled for Wednesday, setting up this doubleheader.
The Royals come into the I-70 series after dropping 2 of 3 in Coors Field to the Colorado Rockies. They left town with a 10-1 haymaker victory Sunday. They were favored in all 3 games and the finale was the only Over cash of the series. SS Bobby Witt Jr. went 3-for-5 with his 15th homer of the season in Sunday’s win. The All-Star is hitting .324 with 15 dingers, 61 RBIs and 22 steals. If the Royals remain in contention, he’s a darkhorse candidate for MVP. BetMGM Sportsbook has those odds at +2000 entering Wednesday’s action.
The Cardinals were scheduled to run their ace RHP Sonny Gray out in the nightcap, but he has been pushed back while the Cards go with rookie RHP Gordon Graceffo. The Cards took 3 of 4 from the Washington Nationals and return home for a 7-game homestand, which includes a 4-game set with a Saturday DH vs. the Chicago Cubs, before the All-Star break. St. Louis OF Lars Nootbaar returned from the DL Monday, and INF/OF Tommy Edman, a regular in the lineup who has been on the DL since the start of the season, is due back after the break.
Royals at Cardinals projected starters
RHP Michael Wacha vs. RHP Gordon Graceffo
Wacha (5-6, 3.74 ERA) makes his 16th start. He has a 1.22 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 8.0 K/9 through 84 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K in 4-2 home victory vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Career vs. Cardinals: 2-0, 2.19 ERA (12 /13 IP, 3 ER), 1.14 WHIP, 11 K in 2 starts
Graceffo (0-0, 2.08 ERA) makes his 1st major league start. He debuted June 29 in relief against the Cincinnati Reds — his lone MLB appearance — and worked 4 1/3 innings, yielding 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks with 4 K’s.
- 2024 at Triple-A Memphis: 8-5, 3.86 ERA (77 IP, 33 ER), 1.39 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9, 8.3 K/9 in 15 starts
- Utilizes 4-seam fastball (94 mph), changeup, curveball and slider
- Opponents have gone hitless against 12 curveballs he has thrown in the majors and are hitting .143 against 21 changeups
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
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 at 2:06 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Royals -102 (bet $102 to win $100) | Cardinals -116 (bet $116 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Royals -1.5 (+150) | Cardinals +1.5 (-184)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -120 | U: -102)
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Royals at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Cardinals 4, Royals 3
Moneyline
This will be the 1st time the 2013 NLCS MVP toes the rubber at Busch Stadium since he left after the 2019 season. Wacha has been great in 2 starts against the Cards — once for the Boston Red Sox and once for the San Diego Padres — in his respective home ballpark the last 2 seasons.
I’m a little surprised to see the Cards favored in this one with the pitching matchup. I think they get it done once Wacha exits, though. The Royals bullpen ranks 2nd in MLB with a 4.37 ERA. The Cards can’t get swept in this doubleheader, and I think they’ll have some issues in the early game.
BET CARDINALS (-116).
Run line/Against the spread
I love MICHAEL WACHA OVER 4.5 K’S (-142). He has 5 or more strikeouts in 3 straight starts and 5+ in both of his career starts against St. Louis.
Book it.
Over/Under
It’s slated to be a humid, 82-degree evening with a slight 5-mph wind blowing out to right-center. With this being the nightcap of a doubleheader, I look for a lower-scoring game. The Over is 5-5 in the last 10 meetings between the teams. The Royals are 4-6 O/U in their last 10, and the Cards are 6-4.
LEAN UNDER 8.5 (-102).
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