St. Louis Cardinals vs Kansas City Royals Picks and Predictions July 9th 2024

Led by Feisty Offense, Royals Hope to Take Down Cards

During a 6-9 slump, the Kansas City Royals‘ offense has struggled, scoring just two runs nine times. However, in an explosive 10-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, they demonstrated their offensive potential. This prevailing exhibition saw the Royals store up 12 hits, snapping a three-game pallet.

Offensive Breakthrough

Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. commented on the team’s potential, saying, “That shows you what our offense can do, and I still think we can do more.” In the game against Colorado, Witt and Maikel Garcia each blasted three-run homers, while MJ Melendez added a solo shot.

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Melendez emphasized the importance of run support for their starters, stating:

“The starters have been amazing, and all we want to do is get the run support for them. We know that they’re going to go out there (and last) six-plus innings, which you don’t see a lot from teams. We want to help them get as many wins as possible, scoring runs while they’re preventing runs.”

Michael Wacha’s Stellar Performance

One of those reliable starters is former St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha (5-6, 3.74 ERA). Wacha has been impressive since early May, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.31 ERA in eight starts since May 9. In his latest outing against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, Wacha allowed just one run and two hits over six innings. Historically, Wacha has performed well against his former team, going 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in two career starts against the Cardinals.

Cardinals’ Recent Success

The St. Louis Cardinals have been on an upswing, winning six of their past eight games to move six games over .500 for the first time this season. Manager Oliver Marmol praised the team’s resilience, stating, “When you dig yourself a hole, it takes a ton physically and emotionally for that clubhouse to get out of it and get to where we are right now. We’re not close to being done.”

Andre Pallante on the Mound

Right-hander Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.00 Time) will begin for the Cardinals on Tuesday. Pallante has made seven starts since being called up from Triple-A Memphis on May 26 and has gone 4-2 with a 3.34 earned run average. His previous outing against Kansas City was on August 11, 2023, when he pitched two innings of relief and allowed three runs, two of which were earned. Pallante pitched seven innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving up one run and four hits.

Pallante featured his methodology, saying:

“While I’m tossing my fastball in the zone in great spots, beneficial things will happen to me. It keeps the hitters under pressure and encourages them to swing at pitches that might be off the plate the more often I can keep that ball in the zone.

Return of Lars Nootbaar

The Cardinals will be bolstered by the return of outfielder Lars Nootbaar, who came off the 10-day injured list on Monday after recovering from an oblique strain. Nootbaar went 1-for-4 in the win over Washington. Manager Oliver Marmol expressed his excitement about Nootbaar’s return, stating, “It’s exciting to have him back. Team’s playing well — any time you can inject a good player into a team that’s doing well, that’s a good thing.”

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Conclusion

The Royals want to build on their recent offensive surge as they enter the Cardinals’ two-game series. Kansas City hopes to maintain their momentum with strong performances from players like Bobby Witt Jr. and dependable starters like Michael Wacha. In the mean time, the Cardinals will depend on the consistent pitching of Andre Pallante and the commitments of returning players like Lars Nootbaar to keep up with their new achievement. As both teams strive to rise in the standings, this series promises to be a fiercely competitive contest.