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MLB : ATS Matchup
Sunday 5/24/2015Line$ LineOU LineScore
ST LOUIS  WACHA )
 
KANSAS CITY  VENTURA )
+1.5  -175

-1.5  +155
+120

-130

7ev
 
6
Final
1

ST LOUIS (27 - 16) at KANSAS CITY (28 - 14)
View Previous GameNo Next Game
Sunday, 5/24/2015 2:10 PM
MICHAEL WACHA (R) vs. EDINSON VOLQUEZ (R)
Board OpeningLatest
 LineTotalLineTotal
929ST LOUIS-105Ov 7.5,+100+105Ov 7,-115
930KANSAS CITY-105Un 7.5,-120-115Un 7,-105
ADVANCED TEAM STATS
ST LOUIS - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games27-16+9.218-244.30.2640.3250.4000.7253.10.2450.3050.3650.670
Road Games12-11+110-133.90.2520.3070.3860.6933.00.2330.3000.3610.661
vs Right-handed Starters22-11+9.914-184.20.2610.3210.3920.7132.90.2380.2960.3550.652
Past 7 Games3-4-12-53.40.2540.3110.3770.6882.60.2320.2950.3480.643
Grass Games27-16+9.218-244.30.2640.3250.4000.7253.10.2450.3050.3650.670
Day Games10-6+3.44-123.60.2500.3150.3750.6902.70.2390.3000.3690.669
Interleague3-5-2.22-62.60.2380.3020.3750.6773.60.2890.3490.4630.812
ST LOUIS - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games4.30.2640.325431496395877340.4001751353271732241243412
Road Games3.90.2520.30723817206433200.386856519491731813254
Righty Starters4.20.2610.321331139297666240.392129101244102462815247
ST LOUIS - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games2.241.203136.3363411874612710-517385%
Road Games2.471.23365.7181854227704-48280%

KANSAS CITY - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games28-14+13.421-185.00.2890.3290.4370.7663.30.2280.2940.3450.640
Home Games17-6+9.811-114.90.2850.3290.4340.7632.70.2190.2820.3240.606
vs Right-handed Starters18-8+9.416-95.40.2940.3370.4470.7843.40.2290.2970.3670.663
Past 7 Games6-1+4.82-55.30.2970.3330.4410.7751.30.2050.2680.2860.554
Grass Games28-14+13.421-185.00.2890.3290.4370.7663.30.2280.2940.3450.640
Day Games9-3+6.26-46.30.3000.3500.4760.8263.10.2220.2780.3290.607
Interleague4-0+41-34.50.3080.3360.4530.7890.70.2080.2750.2420.516
KANSAS CITY - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games5.00.2890.3294214474189014320.437200862272628538243615
Home Games4.90.2850.32923747213459160.4341084910921148177217
Righty Starters5.40.2940.337268852605711190.447131571421517025112510
KANSAS CITY - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games1.580.9641372624889441159-214477.8%
Home Games1.300.89176.3111149419635-09190%
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
ST LOUIS - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
5/10/2015LYONS(L)@ PITTSBURGHLOCKE(L)3-4L1007.5 evU863970
5/12/2015LYNN(R)@ CLEVELANDCARRASCO(R)8-3W1257.5 ovO13809102
5/13/2015LACKEY(R)@ CLEVELANDKLUBER(R)0-2L1257 unU1207130
5/14/2015WACHA(R)@ CLEVELANDBAUER(R)2-1W-1107.5 unU760890
5/15/2015MARTINEZ(R)DETROITGREENE(R)4-10L-1458 unO91001791
5/16/2015LYONS(L)DETROITPRICE(L)3-4L+1007.5 unU109013110
5/17/2015LYNN(R)DETROITSIMON(R)2-1W-1558 unU10100770
5/18/2015LACKEY(R)@ NY METSHARVEY(R)1-2L1256.5 unU91101091
5/19/2015WACHA(R)@ NY METSNIESE(L)10-2W-1257.5 unO1560560
5/20/2015MARTINEZ(R)@ NY METSCOLON(R)9-0W-1307 unO1491461
5/21/2015GARCIA(L)@ NY METSDEGROM(R)0-5L1007 unU220960
5/22/2015LYNN(R)@ KANSAS CITYYOUNG(R)0-5L1007 unU81301160
5/23/2015LACKEY(R)@ KANSAS CITYVOLQUEZ(R)2-3L1207 evU450651
5/24/2015WACHA(R)@ KANSAS CITYVOLQUEZ(R) 
5/25/2015MARTINEZ(R)ARIZONAANDERSON(R) 
5/26/2015GARCIA(L)ARIZONABRADLEY(R) 
5/27/2015LYNN(R)ARIZONACOLLMENTER(R) 
5/29/2015 LA DODGERS  
5/30/2015 LA DODGERS  
5/31/2015 LA DODGERS  

KANSAS CITY - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
5/10/2015YOUNG(R)@ DETROITGREENE(R)2-1W-1108 ovU5525100
5/11/2015DUFFY(L)@ TEXASLEWIS(R)2-8L-1357.5 ovO5519100
5/12/2015VOLQUEZ(R)@ TEXASMARTINEZ(R)7-6W-1309 unO12811471
5/13/2015VENTURA(R)@ TEXASGALLARDO(R)2-5L-1258 evU6301150
5/14/2015GUTHRIE(R)@ TEXASDETWILER(L)6-3W-1059 unP1490781
5/15/2015YOUNG(R)NY YANKEESPINEDA(R)12-1W+1057 unO17100561
5/16/2015DUFFY(L)NY YANKEESSABATHIA(L)1-5L-1258 unU6629101
5/17/2015VOLQUEZ(R)NY YANKEESCAPUANO(L)6-0W-1158 unU750692
5/19/2015VENTURA(R)CINCINNATICUETO(R)3-0W-1206.5 unU960440
5/20/2015GUTHRIE(R)CINCINNATIMARQUIS(R)7-1W-1507.5 unO10409100
5/22/2015YOUNG(R)ST LOUISLYNN(R)5-0W-1107 unU11608130
5/23/2015VOLQUEZ(R)ST LOUISLACKEY(R)3-2W-1307 evU651450
5/24/2015VOLQUEZ(R)ST LOUISWACHA(R) 
5/25/2015VENTURA(R)@ NY YANKEESEOVALDI(R) 
5/26/2015GUTHRIE(R)@ NY YANKEESWARREN(R) 
5/27/2015YOUNG(R)@ NY YANKEESPINEDA(R) 
5/29/2015 @ CHICAGO CUBS  
5/30/2015 @ CHICAGO CUBS  
5/31/2015 @ CHICAGO CUBS  
KEY GAME INFORMATION
ST LOUIS: ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Cardinals hope Michael Wacha is ready to stand alongside ace Adam Wainwright at the top of their rotation.
Wacha was the NL Championship Series MVP as a rookie but just 5-6 with a 3.20 ERA in 19 starts last year. He was sidelined for most of the season's second half by a stress reaction in his shoulder, and was rusty in October before giving up Travis Ishikawa's series-winning homer in Game 5 of the NLCS.
Now he feels healthy.
''It's very encouraging, the long term of what this kid could be and the short term of how he feels, somebody every fifth day that can bring the kind of stuff he does,'' St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. ''He feels good about himself and we feel good about what we're seeing.''
The 23-year-old Wacha has long insisted the injury is behind him.
''Ever since I came back last year, I haven't thought about it when I was on the mound,'' Wacha said. ''As far as I know, it was a rare injury. I'm not sure where it came from.''
If it stays away, the Cardinals figure to again have one of the deeper starting staffs despite trading 15-game winner Shelby Miller for outfielder Jason Heyward. Wainwright was a 20-game winner for the second time, and Lance Lynn has averaged 16 wins during three years in the rotation.
John Lackey is a proven late-season talent. Jaime Garcia's resurgent spring following surgery to relieve nerve compression may cause promising Carlos Martinez to be related to the bullpen again.
Lackey expects to be more comfortable in his first full NL season, saying ''It's different for a lot of reasons.''
Things to watch for with the Cardinals, who open April 5 at Chicago:
LEFT-HANDED HEAVY
There are five lefty bats in the lineup, a potential downside. But there also figures to be more power on the bench. Mark Reynolds, who has hit 20 or more homers each of the last seven seasons, was signed as a free agent. He could factor in as a semi-regular, especially at first base, where Matt Adams has struggled against lefties.
HEYWARD TIME
Only 25, Heyward is a potential future core member of the franchise. His is eligible for free agency after the World Series, and the wooing began not long after the trade with Atlanta - which also brought set-up man Jordan Walden.
''He fits in very well with how our guys work, how seriously they take the game,'' Matheny said. ''He's mixed in very well to this point.''
IMPROVED POP
St. Louis hit just 105 homers last season, second-fewest in the majors. They Cardianls are anticipating more out of right field from Heyward, who had a career-low 11 last year while forced into the leadoff spot with Atlanta. Jhonny Peralta followed his drug suspension with a 21 homers, a franchise record among shortstops, and the smooth-swinging Adams is capable of hitting a lot more than 15.
HEALTHY CHOICES
A full return by Garcia would be an unexpected bonus after two injury-filled seasons. Wainwright and Lynn are recovering from health setbacks early in spring training. Center fielder Jon Jay made a delayed exhibition debut following wrist surgery. ''I said the whole goal was to be ready April 5,'' Jay said.
MORE SPEED
Along with increasing the power profile, there will be an emphasis on manufacturing runs. The Cardinals stole 57 bases last year, third-fewest in the major leagues, but are primed for at least a little more thievery with both Wong and Heyward capable of swiping 20-plus.
''I want to see bigger leads. I want to see more aggressive chances with balls in the dirt,'' Matheny said. ''I want to see us take a first-and-second double steal because we have the kind of players to do that.''
KANSAS CITY: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Every once in a while, Ned Yost will spin a story about his days on Bobby Cox's bench with the Atlanta Braves, back when the organization was winning NL pennants by the fistful.
Inevitably, Yost would start drawing comparisons to his Kansas City Royals - that they were building through the farm system in the same manner as the Braves, and Kansas City would embrace the franchise in the same way Atlanta did if it ever became a winner.
Last year, that narrative finally made sense.
After squeaking into the playoffs as a wild card, the Royals swept all the way to the World Series. If not for a virtuoso performance by Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants, the Royals might very well have been celebrating their second championship.
The postseason run led Yost to draw one more comparison when he arrived in Arizona for the start of a new season, and his players filed into the clubhouse for the first time.
''It definitely reminded me of that feeling in Atlanta,'' he said, ''when you came to spring training every year with the feeling that you have an opportunity to go to the World Series - instead of hoping, you know? And it's a different feeling.''
There is good reason for that feeling, too.
The Royals return most of the pieces from the club that ended a 29-year playoff drought, including one of the best bullpens in baseball history. And the pieces they did lose to free agency have been replaced with what could turn out to be upgrades.
Designated hitter Billy Butler is gone, Kendrys Morales signed in his place. Alex Rios is taking over for Nori Aoki in right field. Edinson Volquez was signed to fill the rotation spot of staff ace James Shields, who chased bigger money all the way to San Diego.
Even though a few faces have changed, the tenants that the Royals believe in have not: They will continue to rely on speed, defense and pitching to chase another playoff berth.
''Any time you're fortunate enough to keep those key pieces, you feel good,'' said Greg Holland, the Royals' All-Star closer. ''Yeah, we lost Billy and Shields and Nori, but for the most part, we're right where we need to be.''
Besides, the back end of the bullpen is still intact.
Kelvin Herrera harnessed his electrifying fastball to become a shutdown seventh-inning reliever last season. Former starter Wade Davis had a historically dominant year as the setup man. Holland further cemented his status as the AL's best closer.
''The way you tilt the field in your favor, in my opinion, is having quality pitching and really good defense,'' Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. ''Those are things that hopefully can show up every single day and perform for you.''
As the Royals approach opening day against the Chicago White Sox on April 6 at Kauffman Stadium, here are a few other story lines to watch this season:
THE ROTATION: Shields was the anchor in 2014, but he struggled mightily in the playoffs. So when the Royals signed Volquez to replace him, it was mostly met with a collective shrug.
Besides, the success of the rotation will more likely be determined by the success of young flamethrowers Danny Duffy and Yordano Ventura, both of whom have ace ability.
INJURY BUGS: The Royals stayed remarkably healthy last season. Will karma even out?
Second baseman Omar Infante already missed long stretches of spring training with a bone spur in his elbow that could require surgery next offseason. Left fielder Alex Gordon also got a slow start to the spring after undergoing wrist surgery this past offseason.
SLOW STARTS: The last couple of seasons, the Royals have gotten off to slow starts. They unsuccessfully dug out of a big hole two years ago, but pulled it off last season.
Considering every other team in the AL Central appeared to get better over the winter, the Royals can ill afford to let Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota and the White Sox bury them.
RESTING SALVY: All-Star catcher Salvador Perez faded in the playoffs in part due to his heavy work load in the regular season, where he appeared in 150 games. Yost intends to give him more days off this year, though it's hard to take his bat out of the lineup.
BASEBALL TOWN: Did the World Series run turn Kansas City into a baseball town again? The club has been overshadowed for decades by the Chiefs, who play just across the parking lot in Arrowhead stadium. How will fans respond to having the reigning AL champions?
PREVIEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (ST LOUIS-KANSAS CITY) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Cardinals-Royals Preview* ==========================

St. Louis (27-15) at Kansas City (27-14), 2:10 p.m. EDT

The Kansas City Royals haven't swept a home series from the St. Louis Cardinals in 14 years.

It won't be easy ending that drought since St. Louis has won 10 straight regular-season starts by Michael Wacha.

Wacha can become the NL's first seven-game winner if he earns his first interleague victory in seven tries and ends the Royals' five-game win streak Sunday.

This three-game set between the top teams in each league has begun with Kansas City (28-14) winning 5-0 on Friday and 3-2 a day later in a rain-shortened game that was called in the sixth inning. Alex Gordon hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the second.

"We'll take it," said Gordon, batting .410 in his last 12 games against the Cardinals. "We knew the weather was coming and it was going to be bad, so we wanted to make sure we had that lead after the fifth inning just to be sure."

St. Louis (27-16) has dropped a season-high three straight and seeks to avoid being swept for the first time. The Cardinals were last swept in Kansas City from June 12-14, 2001, going 27-12 thereafter at Kauffman Stadium.

Wacha (6-0, 2.13 ERA) has a 2.39 ERA during the Cardinals' 10-game regular-season win streak with him on the mound, including eight this season. He can match Seattle's Felix Hernandez for baseball's most victories.

The right-hander established a career high with his sixth win Tuesday, surrendering two runs in seven innings in a 10-2 rout of the New York Mets.

"He's improved," manager Mike Matheny told MLB's official website. "I think he's just getting a better idea of how to use his stuff each night, and he's adjusting real well."

Wacha is 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against the Royals and 0-3 with a 3.60 ERA in six in interleague play. The Cardinals lost his first five starts against the AL before a 2-1 win at Cleveland on May 14.

St. Louis' Matt Holliday is hitless in six at-bats in this series, though he has been hit by a pitch in each contest to keep alive an impressive streak. He has reached base in his first 40 games, two shy of Albert Pujols' club record from 2008.

His streak is 42 straight regular-season games dating to last season; Stan Musial has the club record with 55 in 1943. Holliday is also among baseball's leaders with a .455 average with runners in scoring position.

He has a double in two at-bats against Yordano Ventura (3-3, 4.56), who is 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA in four career interleague starts. That includes a 3-2 win in his only appearance against the Cardinals on June 5, when he outdueled Wacha by allowing two runs in six innings.

Ventura snapped a five-start winless streak by going seven innings in Tuesday's 3-0 home win over Cincinnati. The right-hander left after 88 pitches due to an index fingernail tear from his previous outing that flared up again.

"I started to feel something in the sixth inning and (manager Ned Yost) just told him let's get your ready for the next start, let's take you out of this one," Ventura said through teammate Christian Colon acting as his interpreter.

Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas was removed after four innings Saturday with a bruised left collarbone.

St. Louis slugger Jason Heyward sat out due to tightness in his hip.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez is 4 for 6 in this series and batting .375 during a nine-game hitting streak.


Last Updated: 3/19/2024 1:29:08 AM EST.


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