St. Louis Cardinals at Kansas City Royals odds, picks and predictions

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.

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

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8 a.m. ET.

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Cardinals at Royals picks and predictions

Prediction

Cardinals 5, Royals 4

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.

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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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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