Thursday, March 28, 2024
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MLB Preview: Kansas City Royals (16-38) at St. Louis Cardinals (24-31)

KANSAS CITY ROYALS NOTES:

WALK-OFF WINNER: The Royals snapped a 3-game losing streak with a 3-2, walk-off win over the Nationals yesterday at Kauffman Stadium…they were held scoreless on 2 hits through the first 6.0 innings by MacKenzie Gore, who struck out a career-high 11 batters in 7.0 innings…MJ Melendez broke up the shutout bid with a 417-ft. home run to the opposite field in the 7th inning, and Edward Olivares tied the game in the 8th with a 452-ft. blast that literally smoked the Hall of Fame scoreboard in left field…that set the stage for the bottom of the 9th, when MJ Melendez reached on a two-base error, and Michael Massey drove him home on the game-winning RBI single, the 1st and only Royals hit with a runner in scoring position in the game.

Daniel Lynch was reinstated from the IL and made his season debut, allowing just 2 runs in 5.1 innings.

The Royals are 16-38 through the one-third point of the season, their 2nd-worst mark through 54 games.

HBD, NICK!: Royals right-handed reliever Nick Wittgren is celebrating his 32nd birthday today and 1st with the Royals…he’s pitched three times on his birthday, in 2017 with Miami, 2019 with Cleveland and last year with St. Louis…Wittgren shares this date of birth with former Royal and Lee’s Summit native Trevor Rosenthal (33).

Other May 29 birthdays include the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, who was born on this date in 1917 but was assassinated in 1963…comedian Bob Hope was born on this date in 1903, but passed away in 2003…10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, who announced his retirement last week, is celebrating his 39th birthday, and Leavenworth, Kan. native and musician Melissa Etheridge is 62 today.

MEMORIAL DAY: The Royals are 22-27 all-time on Memorial Day but have lost 13 of their last 15 games on this holiday, including a 7-3 defeat last year in Cleveland…their last win on Memorial Day came in 2021 vs. Pittsburgh.

Major League Baseball and its teams today will honor and observe the National Moment of Remembrance… this special nationwide effort was created to: (1) recognize the importance of remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country; (2) provide an opportunity to offer a unified expression of gratitude; and (3) help younger Americans understand the significance of Memorial Day.

As an additional tribute to service men and women our nation has lost, all on-field personnel today will wear the traditional Memorial red poppy on the left side of their jerseys with “Lest We Forget” language.

STARTING SOMETHING: Josh Staumont will make his 1st career start today as the opener for Mike Mayers… Staumont, who recorded 2 outs in relief of Daniel Lynch in the 6th inning yesterday, will become the first pitcher in Royals history to start a game on zero days’ rest…that feat has become more common in recent years thanks to the widespread use of an opener, as it’s happened four times in the Majors this season, most recently by Oakland’s Austin Pruitt last Wednesday in Seattle…Staumont was recalled to make his season debut on April 14 and 14 of his 18 appearances since have been scoreless and he’s held opponents to a .213 average (13-for-61).

This will be the 5th game this year in which the Royals have deployed an opener…they are 1-3 in the previous 4 games, but Royals openers have pitched 7.0 innings with 1 unearned run allowed and 10 strikeouts.

AS YOU MAY KNOW: This 2-game set in St. Louis will wrap up the month of May for the Royals, who have hit 34 HR this month, which are tied with Minnesota for the 3rd most in the American League, trailing only the Yankees (47) and Rays (40)…Kansas City’s 34 HR are tied with the 2017 club for the most in franchise history in the month of May…that 2017 team set the single-season franchise record with 193 HR, and with 54 HR through 54 games this year, the Royals are on pace for 162, which would match the 4th most in club history.

The Royals have held a lead in 19 of 25 games this month—including each of their last 3 games—but they’re just 9-16 in May with 10 blown lead losses…for the season, the Royals 18 blown lead losses are the 3rd most in the Majors, 1 more than the Cardinals (17) and 1 fewer than the A’s and White Sox (19 each).

I-70 SERIES: The Royals and Cardinals begin the 2023 edition of the I-70 series today with the 1st of 2 meetings in St. Louis…the Royals are 47-73 (.392) all-time vs. their intrastate rivals, which is their lowest win percentage vs. any opponent (min. 25 games)…they have not won a season series vs. the Cardinals since 2016, when they went 3-1…the Royals have lost five of the six season series since, including last year, when they lost 3 of 4 games…Bobby Witt Jr. recorded his 1st career home run off the Cardinals Dakota Hudson on May 3, of last season and MJ Melendez made his Major League debut in that same game, going 1-for-3 with a walk.

The Royals have lost 22 of 30 games vs. St. Louis since 2017, in which they’ve been outscored 171-100.

The Royals are 6-12 in Interleague play this season, including a 5-7 record in National League ballparks.

ON DECK: Following tomorrow night’s game, the Royals will return to Kansas City for back-to-back off days on Wednesday and Thursday, which will mark their first scheduled back-to-back off days since April 6-7, 2016…the Royals will host a 3-game stay this weekend vs. the Rockies, their first trip to Kansas City since 2017.

The Royals will continue a streak of four straight series vs. National League opponents with a 3-game visit to Miami to begin next week, and will conclude that trip with a 3-game set in Baltimore next weekend.

CLOSE CALLS: The Royals have played 16 straight games decided by 4 runs or fewer—in which they’re 5-11— which is their longest streak in 10 years, since a 17-game run from Aug. 7-23, 2013…their current streak began with a 4-3 win on May 11, and their 5 wins during this stretch have been by 7 runs, including 4 1-run victories.

The Royals yesterday improved to 7-5 (.583) in 1-run games, which matches Toronto for the 4th-best record in the American League this season, trailing only Detroit (9-4), Houston (6-3) and Baltimore (10-6).

SALVY SPLASHES: Royals Captain Salvador Perez went 0-for-4 in yesterday’s 3-2, walk-off win over the Nationals to snap his 4-game RBI streak…he’s recorded at least 1 RBI in 16 of his last 27 games since April 24 (59.3%), a stretch in which his 25 RBI are tied for 2nd most in the Majors, 1 RBI behind Isaac Paredes (26)…he’s also tied for 2nd in the Majors since April 24 with 10 home runs, 2 behind league leader Jorge Soler (12), and ranks 4th with a .670 slugging percentage and 8th with a 1.037 OPS.

For the season, Salvy’s 12 home runs lead the Royals and are tied for 6th most in the American League, 3 behind league leader Aaron Judge (15).

Perez’s 9 HR in May are tied with Judge for the American League lead, and match Gary Gaetti in 1995 for the most by a Royal in the month of May.

Royals catchers have hit 14 HR this season—including 10 by Perez—which are the most of any position on the team and the highest total at the catcher position in the Majors, 2 more than the Braves catchers (12)…they’re already more than halfway to their 2022 total of 26 HR by catchers.

Perez is the franchise’s all-time leader in Interleague play with 36 home runs and 110 RBI and his 190 hits rank 2nd only to Alex Gordon (210).

In 33 career games vs. the Cardinals, Salvy has 9 HR and 23 RBI, including a pair of 2-HR games, the last of which came here on April 12, 2022.

TODAY’S STARTERS: RHP JOSH STAUMONT (0-0, 4.76)
Is making his 1st Major League start today in his 167th career appearance…he made 72 career minor league starts from 2015-19, in which he went 10-25 with a 4.58 ERA (146 ER in 286.2 IP).

His last start in the minors came four years ago, on July 12, 2019 at San Antonio with Triple-A Omaha.

Staumont entered yesterday’s game vs. Washington with 1 out in the 6th and a runner on first in relief of starter Daniel Lynch…Josh stranded the inherited runner following a single with a strikeout of Riley Adams and a groundout by Alex Call.

After throwing 15 pitches yesterday, Staumont today is becoming the first pitcher in Royals history to start a game on zero days’ rest.

Josh has had scoreless outings in 14 of his 18 appearances and has held opponents to a .213 average (13-for-61) with 21 strikeouts and no homers.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:

RECENT REDBIRDS: The I-70 interleague series resumes today as the St. Louis Cardinals and cross-state rival Kansas City Royals begin a two-game series/homestand on Memorial Day at Busch Stadium … The Cardinals concluded their seven-game tour (2-2 at Cincinnati, 1-2 at Cleveland) of the Buckeye State yesterday and are playing a current stretch of 13 of 15 games on the road (May 22-June 7) … St. Louis began the season 10-24 before going on their current 14-7 run.

FLIGHT PATTERN: Winners of 14 of their last 21 games (May 7-present), the Cardinals entered today 4th in the NL Central, 5.0 games behind first place Milwaukee … The Cardinals were in last place for 24 straight days (April 25- May 20) … Today is the 18th game of a season-high stretch of 19 consecutive without an off-day (11-6 record).

REDBIRD RESURGENCE: Since May 7, the Cardinals rank 1st in runs scored (127), RBI (121), and total bases (340); T1st in MLB in wins (14); 2nd in runs per game (6.05), slugging (.472), OPS (.808), homers (38), and stolen bases (23); and T-3rd in MLB in win pct. (.667).

LAUNDRY STOP: The Cardinals two-game series/homestand is their shortest regularly-scheduled homestand since a two-game stay in the midst of a 12 of 14 game stretch on the road in July of 2002 when they stopped by St. Louis for a two-game home set with the NL Champion San Francisco Giants (July 17-18 at Busch Stadium II) before hitting the road again.

MISSOURI STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Since Interleague play began in 1997, the Cardinals .608 win pct. (73-47) against the Royals is the best across MLB among Interleague natural rivals and their 2nd-highest against any opponent behind Arizona (.615) … St. Louis has won the season series against Kansas City in 16 of 26 seasons between the Show-Me State rivals (1997-2022) and won 22 of its last 30 games over the Royals dating back to August 7, 2017. – Elias

THREE’S COMPANY: St. Louis has plated three or fewer runs in its last five games (2-3 record), its longest since seven straight games from July 3-9, 2022 (1-6 record). BUT SIX IS A SERIOUS NUMBER: The Cardinals have scored 6+ runs in 18 of their last 23 wins over Kansas City.

CARDINALS ON MEMORIAL DAY: The Cardinals are 25-22 all-time on Memorial Day (15-11 at home) since it became an official holiday in 1970 … The only time the Cardinals and Royals faced off was 2013 at Kauffman Stadium, a 6-3 Cardinals win as Adam Wainwright hurled 8.0 innings and Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer off James Shields.

UNCLE CHARLIE: Today is Adam Wainwright’s 207th career start at Busch Stadium III, tying Bob Forsch (207 at Busch Stadium II) for 19th-most starts at a single stadium and most by a Cardinal at any stadium in MLB history … In his career, Waino has beaten Kansas City more times (7-3) than any National League pitcher in Interleague history, with only Clayton Kershaw (9-2 vs. Angels) boasting more victories by an NL pitcher vs. an AL team in MLB history than Wainwright against the Royals … With a win today, Wainwright would surpass Jesse Haines (107) for sole possession of 2nd place all-time among Cardinals in victories at home.

BURGER PHONE HOTLINE: The Cardinals have used their dugout Burger Phone to place an order for 75 home runs this season, 5th most in the MLB…they rank 3rd in homers for the month of May (44) to the Yankees (47) & Braves (48)…The Redbirds sport a 19-16 record in games when they go yard this season, but are 4-15 in homerless games … With a home run today or tomorrow the Cardinals will have tied their single season homer mark for the month of May, matching the 45 blasts by the 2000 Redbirds (13 by Mark McGwire).

TOMMY BOY: Tommy Edman has scored a run in six consecutive games vs. the Royals (Aug. 13, 2021-present), two shy of the franchise record of eight straight by So Taguchi (June 30, 2006-June 20, 2007) … Aaron Judge holds MLB’s active run streak against the Royals, scoring in his last seven (Aug. 11, 2021-present).

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The Cardinals have lost the first game in 13 of their 17 series, including a franchise record 11-straight to begin the season … St. Louis is 4-0 when winning the series opener, but just 2-9-2 in series when losing the first game … The last time the Redbirds
won a series when dropping the opener was April 10-12 at Colorado (2-1).

BIRD BYTES: The Cardinals have played to one-run decisions in each of their past four games (2-2 record) and five-of-seven on their recent road trip; St. Louis is 5-11 in one-run games this season … St. Louis has alternated wins and losses over the last eight games (May 21-present) … The Cardinals (+13) are one of just six NL teams with a plus run differential, joining the Braves (+62), Dodgers (+50), Pirates (+10), Dbacks (+11), and Cubs (+4) … The Cardinals & Cubs are the only MLB teams with a plus run rating & yet a sub-.500 W-L mark.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP ADAM WAINWRIGHT (2-0, 6.33)
TODAY’S GAME

  • Makes his 5th start of the season & 462nd career appearance (395th career start).
  • Today is Wainwright’s 207th career start at Busch Stadium III, tying Bob Forsch (207 at Busch Stadium II) for 19th-most starts at a single stadium and most by a Cardinal at any stadium in MLB history.
  • Has beaten Kansas City more times (7) than any pitcher in NL history, while his seven wins are his most against any AL team that was not previously in the NL (Houston).
  • Among National League pitchers, only Clayton Kershaw vs. Angels (9-2) has more wins vs. an American League team in MLB history than Wainwright vs. Royals (7-3).
  • Wainwright’s 22 career interleague wins rank T-16th all-time in MLB history (T-5th among active pitchers) and 2nd-most by a NL pitcher (Clayton Kershaw, 27-6).
  • Has departed with the lead in each of his first four starts.
  • Today is Wainwright’s 395th career start, ranking 3rd all-time among Cardinals pitchers Bob Gibson (482) & Bob Forsch (401). Waino’s 395 career starts, all with St. Louis, rank 14th-most, exclusively with one organization in MLB history, while Gibson (482) ranks 6th. Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators leads at 666.
  • Is three wins shy of 200 career, 13 wins from 210 (T-2nd all-time Cardinals history with Jesse Haines), and six starts away from reaching 400 career.
  • At age 41, Waino is one of four active players age 40+ with Rich Hill (43), Nelson Cruz (42) and Miguel Cabrera (40).
  • Missed the first 33 games of the season due to a groin injury he suffered while working out during the WBC Finals. Made two injury rehab starts for Springfield (AA) and one for Memphis (AAA).

LAST TIME OUT

  • Earned career win No. 197 last Tuesday against the Reds at Great American Ball Park, allowing five runs on eight hits. Departed with 7-5 lead with runners on first and second and two outs.

DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
5/23 at CIN W 8-5 W-2 5.2 8 5 5 1 2 1 77-52
2023

  • Earned 196th career on 5/18 vs. LAD. Gave him 107 career home wins with the Cardinals, T-2nd most in Cardinals history with Jesse Haines. Held a 9-2 lead when he departed and Cardinals held on for 16-8 win as the Redbirds blasted seven homers.
  • Became the 21st pitcher in MLB history with 300.0 or more career innings in Interleague play in his start at Boston (5/14). Passed Jesse Haines (39) for 2nd place all-time among Cardinals with 40 starts over the age of 40. Trails only Grover Cleveland Alexander (80). Allowed back-to-back home runs for only the 9th time in his career.
  • Made season debut vs. DET (5/6) and took a no-decision the Cardinals lost in 10 innings.

BUSCH STADIUM III (2006-present)

  • Needs one Home win to pass Jesse Haines (107) for 2nd all-time among Cardinals.
  • Has 107 career regular-season wins at Busch Stadium III, tied with Wilbur Cooper (107 at Forbes Field) for 22nd-most wins at a single stadium.
  • Is one of 22 pitchers in MLB history to hold a stadium’s record for both appearances (237) and starts (206). Joins Bob Forsch (233 app/207 GS at Busch II) as Cardinals on that list.
  • Today is Wainwright’s 207th career start at Busch Stadium III, tying Bob Forsch (207 at Busch Stadium II) for 19th-most at a single stadium and most by a Cardinal at any stadium in MLB history.
  • Has 1,181 regular season strikeouts at Busch Stadium III, 15th-most all-time at a single stadium. Jim Palmer (1,191 SO at Memorial Stadium) ranks 14th.
  • Is tied with Lance Lynn and Trevor Rosenthal for most Postseason appearances at Busch (13). Leads in PS starts (8), IP (62.0), strikeouts (72) at Busch III.
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