The St. Louis Cardinals (51-66) will conclude a 2-game series against the Kansas City Royals (38-80) Saturday at Kauffman Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cardinals vs. Royals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Royals lead 2-1
In Friday’s 12-8 loss to the Royals, C Willson Contreras produced 3 hits, a home run, and 5 runs batted in for the Cardinals. Friday’s defeat snapped a 2-game winning streak for St. Louis, and it remains in last place in the NL Central.
The Royals also got impressive production from their catcher as C Salvador Perez tallied 4 hits, a home run and 4 runs batted in during Friday’s 12-8 victory. Kansas City has won only 2 of its last 7 contests and it is in last place in the AL Central.
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Cardinals at Royals projected starters
LHP Steven Matz vs. LHP Cole Ragans
Matz (3-7, 3.91 ERA) makes his 17th start. He has a 1.37 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 8.5 K/9 through 99 IP.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K in a 6-2 home win over the Colorado Rockies Aug. 5.
- Road stats: 1-3, 4.76 ERA (45 1/3 IP, 24 ER) in 8 starts (11 appearances).
- Career vs. Royals: 2-0, 1.23 ERA (14 2/3 IP, 2 ER) in 2 starts (3 appearances).
Ragans (3-3, 3.86 ERA) makes his 4th start. He has a 1.26 WHIP, 3.9 BB/9 and 9.9 K/9 through 42 IP.
- Last start: No decision, 6 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 11 K in a 6-2 road loss to the Boston Red Sox Monday
- Home stats: 3-1, 3.13 ERA (23 IP, 8 ER) in 2 starts (11 appearances).
- First career start vs. the Cardinals.
Cardinals at Royals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cardinals -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Royals +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cardinals -1.5 (+110) | Royals +1.5 (-135)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Cardinals at Royals picks and predictions
Prediction
Cardinals 5, Royals 4
Moneyline
Following Friday’s loss, I’ll side with the CARDINALS (-140) on the road in Saturday’s matchup. St. Louis has gone 4-1 in Matz’s last 5 starts (he has 3 wins in that span).
The Cardinals are also 7-3 in the last 10 meetings overall.
Run line/Against the spread
ROYALS +1.5 (-135) is the play in this contest as Kansas City has been getting solid pitching from Ragans. The Royals have either won or kept the game within 2 runs in 6 of their last 10 games.
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Over/Under
UNDER 9.5 (-115) is how I’d wager on the run total with both teams facing a southpaw on the mound. The Under is 2-1 in the first 3 meetings this season.
The Cardinals are also 9-4 to the Under in their last 13 games overall.
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