KC Royals Face St. Louis Cardinals in Matchup of Baseball’s Best

When the St. Louis Cardinals and KC Royals meet at Busch Stadium tonight, they’ll be doing so with each team having the best record in their league. This of course will be the second time these I-70 foes have met this season with Kansas City taking two of three last month at Kauffman Stadium from St. Louis.

Kansas City heads east to St. Louis against Jason Heyward and the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Since that series the Redbirds have gone on a tear to claim the best record in MLB however, they’re just 2-4 against teams located on I-70 west (lost two of three at Colorado this week).

Probable Pitching Match-ups:
Friday, 7:15 pm – Yordano Ventura/RHP (3-5, 4.62) v. Jaime Garcia/LHP (1-3, 2.67)
Saturday, 3:10 pm – Jeremy Guthrie/RHP (4-3, 5.82) v. Lance Lynn/RHP (4-4, 3.07)
Sunday, 1:15 pm – Jason Vargas/LHP (5-2, 4.10) v. John Lackey/RHP (4-4, 3.74)

Comments on Pitching Match-ups – KC didn’t see Garcia when STL came to the K at the end of May but did square off versus Lynn and Lackey. Ventura will be the Royals lone repeat from that series as Guthrie and Vargas didn’t start last series.

Game 1: Garcia comes in with a nice ERA but carries a 1-3 record into this series opening start on Friday night. Ventura, after going 3-0 versus National League opponents in 2014, is 0-1 with a no-decision so far this year.
Game 2: Lynn was roughed up in his start to open the first series as he lost 5-0 to Chris Young. J-Guts continues to improve from his awful performance a few weeks ago as he got a ND versus Texas on Sunday.
Game 3: In Sunday’s finale, Lackey suffered the defeat in game two which was a six-inning rain shortened game. Vargas is coming off a solid start at Minnesota this week which he went six innings not allowing a run.

Series Predictions – These teams square off for the second time in nearly three weeks after meeting up Memorial Day weekend. The Cardinals come in losing a series in Denver while the Royals have won four straight including a sweep to open their road trip. Matt Adams and Matt Holliday both are currently on the DL which has seemed to affect their play. While they boost the best fans in baseball they’ll get a chance to see potentially most of the American League All-Stars this weekend that said starting pitching is the difference between these fair even teams. Prediction: Cardinals take two of three

2015 Meeting:
Kansas City took the first two games 5-0 and 3-2 (final in six innings) before losing 6-1 to St. Louis. Young and Edinson Volquez beat Lynn and Lackey with Michael Wacha besting Ventura when these teams played on the western side of Missouri.

Franchise History:
All-time St. Louis holds a 47-36 record over the KC Royals; however, our boys in blue are 18-16 on the east side of Missouri including 13-9 at “new” Busch Stadium.

TV/Radio Coverage:
FOX Sports Kansas City will broadcast Friday and Sunday with Steve Physioc and Rex Hudler on the call. Royals Live takes before and after the game with host Joel Goldberg and Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery from the field.

The Royals Radio Network (610 Sports in Kansas City) has Royals Hall of Famer/2007 Ford C. Frick Award winner Denny Matthews who’s joined in the booth by Ryan Lefebvre and Steve Stewart describing all the action from the K.

2015 Series Schedule/Results v. Cardinals (KC 2-1)
May 22-24: Kauffman Stadium – W 5-0, W 3-2 (F/6), L 6-1
June 12-14: Busch Stadium

Game Notes:
St. Louis Cardinals
Kansas City Royals

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