I have returned after a Thursday away in which Max took over writing duties. If you’ll recall, the last time I covered a Thursday, the Royals won. But that turned out to be an aberration as Max couldn’t keep the good times rolling.
Now, I’m back to cover the Royals facing their cross-state rival. Are the Cardinals the Royals’ biggest rival? That’s debatable.
As Max previewed earlier today, the two teams have gone in different directions this year. The Royals were supposed to compete while the Cardinals struggled through a rebuild. Instead, the Royals are struggling (though not rebuilding) while the Cardinals are the ones competing, second in the National League Central while occupying the NL’s top Wild Card spot.
Great. As I wrote after the 2024 season, the Royals had a great opportunity to become Missouri’s baseball team, a crown which the team has never worn. Instead, Kansas City lost steam last year before faceplanting this season. Meanwhile, under a new front office, St. Louis is on pace to end its long playoff drought—one which spans all of three years.
This is the second and final regular season series between Missouri’s two ballclubs this season. The first took place in St. Louis May 15—17. The Cardinals took the first two games before the Royals won the finale. The teams scored the same amount of runs that weekend: eight.
Before getting to the lineups and starting pitchers, two other things are happening at The K tonight that should be noted.
First, England’s World Cup team is attending. The Three Lions won their first match of the tournament yesterday down in Arlington, Texas, defeating Croatia 4-2 thanks, in part, to Harry Kane’s brace.
Second, tonight the Royals will be hosting a flash fundraiser to benefit the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy. Up for auction are four World Baseball Classic baseball bats—one for Team Italy, one for Team USA, one for Team Venezuela, and the fourth an all-Royals bat. They all look pretty dope. If I had discretionary income, I’d be interested!
All right, let’s get to the lineups. First, of course, for the Royals:
Well, just by looking at their lineup and nothing about what the Cardinals are doing, I can tell the Royals are facing a southpaw. Lane Thomas hit one of four homers yesterday for the Royals en route to their victory over the Nationals. I’m glad to see Jac Caglianone getting action not only at first base but also batting third. Starling Marte batting cleanup is…something.
Noah Cameron takes the mound. Though the Astros touched him up a bit during his last outing, he’s been pitching well as of late. Just two outings ago, he tossed six against the Twins with seven strikeouts, zero walks, and no earned runs. Before that, he went seven against the Reds while fanning eight, walking zero, and giving up just one run. He hasn’t surrendered a walk in his last three outings.
For the Cardinals:
Couple of interesting names in the lineup. JJ Wetherholt was taken with the pick after Cags in the 2024 MLB Draft. Jordan Walker, who’s having a breakout year, was taken with the pick after Brady Singer way back in the 2018 MLB Draft. Ex-Royal Nelson Velasquez is tarting in left—he’s not played much in the bigs this year, but is posting a sterling .972 OPS. The Cardinals’ third baseman’s first name is Blaze, which is not a real first name.
And on the mound, yes, it is a left-hander: Matthew Liberatore. Liberatore, making his 15th start of the season, has failed to get out of the fifth inning in his last two outings, though St. Louis still managed to win both of those games. Last time out, against the Twins, he gave up five hits, three of which left the field of play.
May the Royals have such success against him this evening.
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