Kansas City Royals vs St. Louis Cardinals Betting Pick & Prediction for 5/17

MLB game preview

The Kansas City Royals will visit the St. Louis Cardinals for an afternoon game at Busch Stadium. The Royals come into the game with a record of 19-27, sitting at the bottom of the AL Central division. They have struggled recently, losing their last six games and winning only two of their last ten.

The Cardinals have a record of 27-18, placing them third in the NL Central. They have been on a roll, winning their last three games and six of their last ten. The game will feature Stephen Kolek on the mound for the Royals and Andre Pallante for the Cardinals. The weather is expected to be warm with scattered clouds. The game will be broadcast on ROYL.

Kansas City Royals Team Preview

The Kansas City Royals have faced some tough competition recently. They played against the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox in their last few games. Each game resulted in a loss, but they managed to keep the scores close.

Bobby Witt Jr. is a key player for the Royals. He has a batting average of .309 with 7 home runs and 23 RBIs this season. Maikel Garcia also contributes with a .264 batting average and 18 RBIs.

The pitching staff has room for improvement. Their team ERA stands at 4.38, which ranks 22nd. Stephen Kolek will be the starting pitcher in the next game, with a season record of 1-0 and an ERA of 6.75.

Royals vs Cardinals Game Day Info

  • Sport: MLB
  • Teams: Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals
  • Venue: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
  • Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Royals Moneyline -105, Cardinals Moneyline -116

St. Louis Cardinals Team Preview

The St. Louis Cardinals are coming off a series of wins against the Kansas City Royals and the Athletics. They won their last game against the Royals with a score of 4-2. Kyle Leahy pitched six innings, giving up just one earned run on five hits.

In their recent games, the Cardinals have shown strong hitting. Jordan Walker has been a key player, batting .308 with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs. Alec Burleson and Iván Herrera have also contributed with solid performances at the plate.

The Cardinals’ pitching has been consistent, with Andre Pallante set to start in the upcoming game. He has a 4-3 record with a 4.46 ERA this season. The team ranks 17th in ERA and 6th in quality starts in the league.

BTB Betting Pick

The Cardinals are slightly favored with a moneyline of -116. They have a better team batting average and on-base percentage compared to the Royals. Given these advantages, the Cardinals are the pick to win. The projected score is Cardinals 5, Royals 4.

The total for the game is set at 9.0 runs. Both teams have mid-range pitching stats, with the Cardinals having a slightly better ERA. The projected total score is 9, which aligns with the current line. The recommendation is to take the over at 9.0 (-115).