The St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals meet Friday in MLB action from Kauffman Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The St. Louis Cardinals will send out Michael McGreevy here and McGreevy is 3-5 with a 2.99 ERA and 51 strikeouts this season. Seth Lugo will start for the Royals and is 2-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 66 strikeouts this season.
St. Louis Cardinals Recap
The St. Louis Cardinals come into this game looking to bounce back from a 14-6 loss at the hands of the Royals last time out to sit at 40-33 this season. After this series, the Cardinals will head home for a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Cardinals Drop 3 Of Last 4
Entering Thursday, Jordan Walker leads the Cardinals with 81 hits, 16 doubles, 18 home runs and 56 RBIs while Alec Burleson has 80 hits with 18 doubles, 13 home runs and 53 RBIs. JJ Wetherholt has 68 hits with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs while Ivan Herrera has 69 hits with 13 doubles, 9 home runs and 31 RBIs. Nolan Gorman has 39 hits with 7 home runs and 26 RBIs this season. Masyn Winn’s added 56 hits with 9 doubles and 26 RBIs and Nathan Church has 45 hits with 5 home runs and 19 RBIs this season.
Kansas City Royals Recap
The Kansas City Royals come into this game looking to add on to their win over the Cardinals on Thursday to improve to 31-45 this season. After this series, the Royals will head on the road for a game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Royals Win Back-To-Back Games
Going into Thursday, Kyle Isbel has 40 hits with 3 home runs and 11 RBIs. Jac Caglianone has 62 hits with 12 doubles, 8 home runs, 20 RBIs and a triple while Bobby Witt Jr. has 86 hits with 19 doubles, 9 home runs and 30 RBIs and Vinnie Pasquantino’s added 55 hits with 10 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs and 30 RBIs on the year. Maikel Garcia also has 69 hits with 16 doubles, 3 home runs and 30 RBIs this season. Carter Jensen’s also chipped in 53 hits with 14 doubles, 9 home runs and 37 RBIs this season.
St. Louis Cardinals @ Kansas City Royals Betting Trends: June 19, 2026
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Seth Lugo Record this season: 2-4 ERA: 3.86
- Home Record: 1-3
- Last 5 against Cardinals: 0-0
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
- The underdogs have won three of the Cardinals’ last four games at Kauffman Stadium.
- The Cardinals have lost eight of their last 12 games as road favorites.
- The Royals have covered the run line in 10 of their last 11 games as underdogs against the Cardinals.
- The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six games as favorites against the Royals following a loss.
- The Royals have won the first inning in three of their last four games as underdogs against the Cardinals.
- The Royals have led after 3 innings in four of their last five games against NL Central opponents.
- The Royals have led after 5 innings in four of their last five games against NL Central opponents.
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Michael McGreevy Record this season: 3-5 ERA: 2.99
- Road Record: 2-3
- Last 5 against Royals: –
Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win
- The Royals have lost each of their last seven home games against the Cardinals following a home win.
- The Cardinals have won each of their last five road games against the Royals following a road loss.
- The Cardinals have covered the run line in each of their last 10 Friday night games.
- The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six games against NL Central opponents following a home win.
- The Royals have lost the first inning in four of their last five home games against National League opponents.
- The Cardinals have led after 3 innings in eight of their last nine games as road favorites against American League opponents.
- The Cardinals have led after 5 innings in seven of their last eight night games.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Cardinals’ last five night games against AL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Royals’ last five night games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in nine of Michael McGreevy’s last 10 appearances as a starter.
- There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in six of the last seven games between the Cardinals and Royals.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Seth Lugo has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances with the Royals as underdogs against NL opponents.
- Seth Lugo has recorded five or more strikeouts in eight of his last nine appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Salvador Perez has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances in night games against NL Central teams that held a winning record.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has hit a home run in four of the Royals’ last five home games against opponents that held a winning record.
St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts
- Alec Burleson has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances with the Cardinals as road favorites against AL Central opponents.
- Masyn Winn has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cardinals’ last five night games.
- Jordan Walker ranks T6th in the league in Hits (83) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Royals rank 3rd in the league for doubles this season (132).
- The Royals rank T26th in the league for walks allowed this season (288).
- The Cardinals rank T27th in the league for triples this season (6).
- The Cardinals are one of only four teams in the league to rank top 10 in both strikeouts and on-base percentage this season.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction
I’m on the Cardinals in this one. I know the Royals took care of business on Thursday, but I still believe in Michael McGreevy as a starter in his current form. Seth Lugo has been hit or miss and I think the Cardinals get to him and get the job done here. Give me the Cardinals in this one.