Royals vs Cardinals | 2021 MLB Betting Favorites & Analysis

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Bragging rights in Missouri are on the line starting Tuesday when the Kansas City Royals visit the St. Louis Cardinals to open an interleague series. The Cards are heavy favorites on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Kansas City at St. Louis MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7:45 PM ET
Where: Busch Stadium
Probable pitchers (away/home): Daniel Lynch/Dakota Hudson
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Cardinals -180/Royals +170 (total 8.5)

Why Bet on Kansas City?

The Royals finished a home series with Cleveland on Monday and lost 10-7 after allowing 17 runs on Sunday. Tribe rookie Steven Kwan finished the series 9 for 13, got on base in 15 of 19 plate appearances and scored four times. His three RBI in the eighth inning Monday were the first of his career.

Andrew Benintendi went 3-for-3 with a homer, three RBI and two walks Monday for Kansas City. Benintendi is 7-for-13 with three walks and just one strikeout through four games. Benintendi is the fourth Royal with multiple 3-hit games within the first four games of the season, joining Johnny Damon (2 in 1998), Kevin Seitzer (3 in 1987) and Hal McRae (2 in 1977).

Kansas City had three steals Monday and now have a Majors-most 15 games with 3 steals since the start of 2021. Whit Merrifield recorded his first stolen base of the season and 160th of his career, matching Alcides Escobar for 8th most in Royals history. Salvador Perez reached base three times, including an RBI single in the 3rd to snap a 0-for-12 skid to begin 2022 and a 0-for-23 skid dating back to last year.

The Royals split a four-game series to begin the season for just the second time in franchise history, following a four-game series split in Toronto in 2000.

Before the game, the team optioned pitcher Jackson Kowar to Triple-A Omaha. In a corresponding move Monday, reliever Joel Payamps was reinstated from the family medical emergency list and will offer a fresh arm in the bullpen. Kowar allowed seven runs on 11 hits in 3 1/3 relief innings on Sunday against the Guardians, marking his sixth straight outing of allowing five or more runs dating back to last season in the Majors.

It’s former top prospect Daniel Lynch on the mound here. The 25-year-old righty was hit or miss this spring in the Cactus League and posted an uninspiring 5.69 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 55/31 K/BB ratio across 68 innings (15 starts) last year at the major-league level. Lynch revamped his curveball this spring and commanded the ball well at least.

“Very, very pleased with the progression Daniel made,” Manager Mike Matheny said. “Thought he did a very nice job of working on things that he needed to work on, be more consistent with all four pitches. Exactly what we asked for — pounding the strike zone, controlling the running game, repeating his mechanics.”

Why Bet on St. Louis?

The Cardinals were supposed to finish a home series with the Pirates on Monday but it was rained out. Future Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina was to get Monday off but should be good to go Tuesday. r Molina is two RBI shy of 1,000 for his career. He currently trails Cardinals Hall of Famer Ken Boyer, who ranks 6th in franchise history with 1,001 RBI.

Through the first three games of the season, Nolan Arenado has recorded at least two RBI in each game marking only the second Cardinal to accomplish the feat and trailing the leader, Mark McGwire, who recorded multiple RBI in each of the first four games of his record-breaking 1998 season. Arenado is currently leading the National League with a 1.250 slugging percentage, a 1.788 OPS and seven RBI. He’s tied for the league lead with two home runs and three doubles.

Dylan Carlson extended a hitting streak dating back to last September 26, 2021, to 10 games, a career-high. Carlson’s streak currently ranks T-5th longest in MLB trailing Trea Turner (23), Matt Duffy (15), Starlin Castro (14) and currently suspended Pedro Severino (11).

Manager Oliver Marmol up missing a pair of contests over the weekend after being diagnosed with the flu but was back and ready Monday.

Dakota Hudson will start on Tuesday against the Royals. Hudson will only be pushed back a day following Monday’s rainout. Pirates. The Cardinals plan to keep their rotation on schedule by having Tuesday’s original starter Jordan Hicks work in relief following Hudson. Hicks will be limited to about 45 pitches behind Hudson.

Hudson missed the end of the 2020 season and the majority of 2021 while recovering from Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow. He needs one win for 25 career wins, 0.1 innings for 250.0 career innings pitched, and 8 strikeouts for 200. Since his Major League debut (July 28, 2018), Hudson ranks 4th in Major League Baseball in both ground ball percentage (58.0) and ground ball/flyball ratio (2.94) among those with 162 or more innings pitched.

Also since his MLB debut, he has the 13th-highest run support average (6.24) in MLB over that period. Hudson sports the 2nd-lowest ERA (2.40) in Busch Stadium III history (minimum 100.0 innings pitched), trailing only John Lackey (2.08).

Game Trends

Royals are 12-3 in their last 15 during game 1 of a series.
Royals are 4-1 in their last 5 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Royals are 4-9 in their last 13 games as an underdog.
Cardinals are 7-1 in their last 8 during game 1 of a series.
Cardinals are 6-2 in their last 8 interleague games as a favorite.
Cardinals are 10-4 in their last 14 home games.