The St. Louis Cardinals are set to face off against the Kansas City Royals in a three-game home series, starting Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. at Busch Stadium. Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.23 ERA) will take the mound, with his success heavily reliant on keeping opposing hitters on the ground. Over the past month, Pallante has seen opponents struggle against his ground balls, while he has faced minimal challenges from fly balls, particularly as the Royals are the least effective team in baseball when it comes to producing runs off such hits.
Kansas City batters currently have an MLB-worst average of .157 on fly balls, combined with the lowest slugging percentage of .398 in that category. In stark contrast, the Cardinals have posted a .720 OPS on fly balls. With just 34 home runs this season, the Royals find themselves trailing the rest of the league by a significant margin.
In his last outing against the Royals in Kansas City, Pallante showcased his skills by allowing only two earned runs across seven innings, marking one of his season’s standout performances. Also notable is his improved ERA at home (3.86) compared to his road stats (4.43).
On the opposing side, the Royals will feature right-hander Michael Lorenzen (3-6, 4.33 ERA). Lorenzen has had some success against the Cardinals in previous appearances, holding a 2.51 ERA against them in 36 outings, primarily as a reliever.
Despite their struggles, the Royals did call up top prospect Jac Caglianone, who could provide a much-needed boost in power hitting while batting sixth as the designated hitter.
In terms of team standings, the Cardinals are positioned second in the National League Central, four games behind the Chicago Cubs, while the Royals sit fourth in the American League Central.
Injury updates indicate that the Cardinals will be without outfielder Jordan Walker, who is on the 10-day injured list due to left wrist inflammation, although the team hopes for a quick recovery. Additionally, left-handed pitcher Zach Thompson is gradually resuming his throwing program after a minor setback.
Fans eager to catch the action can tune into the game via the FanDuel Sports Network Midwest or listen on KMOX radio.
This upcoming matchup holds potential for an exciting series, particularly with Pallante on the hill and the prospect of Caglianone making his impact felt for the Royals. Both teams are poised to showcase their skills, and there is hope for the Cardinals to capitalize on their home-field advantage and improve their standing as the season progresses.