- The Cardinals are -105 favorites vs the Royals
- Cardinals vs Royals Over / Under today: 8.5 Runs
- Cardinals / Royals TV Channel: FDMW | FDKC | KSMO
The St. Louis Cardinals (-105) visit Kauffman Stadium to take on the Kansas City Royals (-115) on Sunday, May 18, 2025. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10pm EDT in Kansas City, MO, MO.
This season, the Cardinals are 26-20 against the spread (ATS), while the Royals are 23-24 ATS.
Cardinals vs Royals Starting Pitchers Today:
- Cardinals starting pitcher: Matthew Liberatore 3-3, 3.11 ERA
- Royals starting pitcher: Michael Wacha 3-4, 2.96 ERA
Cardinals vs. Royals Odds, Run Line, Over/Under & Moneyline
| Spread | Over / Under | Moneyline | |
| Cardinals | -1.5 +155 | O 8 -102 | -105 |
| Royals | +1.5 -190 | U 8 -118 | -115 |
Cardinals vs Royals Prediction for Today’s Game
Based on recent trends the model predicts the Royals will win Sunday‘s MLB game with 52.0% confidence, factoring in game simulations, recent player performances, starting pitchers and injuries.
Bet now on Cardinals vs Royals and all games with BetMGM
We’ve highlighted some favorite MLB player prop bets for Cardinals players for Sunday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:
Best Cardinals Player Prop Bets Today:
- Alec Burleson has hit the Home Runs Over in 3 of his last 6 games (+22.00 Units / 367% ROI)
- Lars Nootbaar has hit the Total Bases Over in 17 of his last 25 games (+10.65 Units / 32% ROI)
- Masyn Winn has hit the Hits Over in 19 of his last 25 away games (+9.75 Units / 22% ROI)
- Masyn Winn has hit the Hits Runs and RBIs Over in 17 of his last 25 away games (+8.45 Units / 30% ROI)
- Willson Contreras has hit the Singles Over in 16 of his last 25 games (+8.15 Units / 32% ROI)
And here are some favorite MLB player prop bets for Royals players for Sunday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:
Best Royals Player Prop Best Bets Today:
- Salvador Perez has hit the Runs Under in 21 of his last 25 games (+14.60 Units / 35% ROI)
- Salvador Perez has hit the Hits Under in his last 6 games (+9.15 Units / 102% ROI)
- Salvador Perez has hit the Hits Runs and RBIs Under in 9 of his last 10 games (+8.60 Units / 80% ROI)
- Salvador Perez has hit the Total Bases Under in his last 8 games (+8.00 Units / 69% ROI)
- Bobby Witt Jr. has hit the Singles Under in 12 of his last 20 games (+7.55 Units / 38% ROI)
Cardinals Best Bets Today:
- The St. Louis Cardinals have covered the Run Line in their last 13 games (+14.75 Units / 79% ROI)
- The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the Moneyline in 17 of their last 23 games (+12.65 Units / 49% ROI)
- The St. Louis Cardinals have covered the 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line in 23 of their last 32 games (+12.45 Units / 32% ROI)
- The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline in 17 of their last 36 games (+8.60 Units / 22% ROI)
- The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the Team Total Over in 26 of their last 46 games (+4.27 Units / 8% ROI)
Royals Best Bets Today:
- The Kansas City Royals have hit the Team Total Under in 35 of their last 47 games (+22.75 Units / 42% ROI)
- The Kansas City Royals have hit the Game Total Under in 27 of their last 39 games (+14.95 Units / 35% ROI)
- The Kansas City Royals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 17 of their last 24 games at home (+10.40 Units / 38% ROI)
- The Kansas City Royals have hit the Moneyline in 17 of their last 25 games (+10.30 Units / 29% ROI)
- The Kansas City Royals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline in 14 of their last 23 games (+7.55 Units / 23% ROI)
Cardinals Against the Spread (ATS) Record
Against the spread this season, the Cardinals are 28-18 against the Run Line (+5.95 Units / 8.95% ROI).
- 26-20 when betting on the Moneyline for +7 Units / 13.74% ROI
- 24-20 when betting on the total runs Over for +1.95 Units / 3.86% ROI
- 20-24 when betting on the total runs Under for -6.6 Units / -13.01% ROI
Royals Against the Spread (ATS) Record
Against the spread this season, the Royals are 23-24 against the Run Line (-8.1 Units / -12.09% ROI).
- 25-22 when betting on the Moneyline for +2.8 Units / 4.64% ROI
- 16-30 when betting on the total runs Over for -16.57 Units / -32.29% ROI
- 30-16 when betting on the total runs Under for +12.45 Units / 23.91% ROI
Royals vs Cardinals Home Run Prop Bets Today
| Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|
| Salvador Perez (KC) | 0.5 +425 | 0.5 -600 |
| Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) | 0.5 +450 | 0.5 -625 |
| Willson Contreras (STL) | 0.5 +525 | 0.5 -750 |
| Hunter Renfroe (KC) | 0.5 +525 | 0.5 -750 |
| Lars Nootbaar (STL) | 0.5 +600 | 0.5 -900 |
Royals vs Cardinals Total Hits Prop Bets Today
| Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|
| Ivan Herrera (STL) | 0.5 -275 | 0.5 +195 |
| Brendan Donovan (STL) | 0.5 -275 | 0.5 +200 |
| Nolan Arenado (STL) | 0.5 -250 | 0.5 +185 |
| Willson Contreras (STL) | 0.5 -250 | 0.5 +185 |
| Maikel Garcia (KC) | 0.5 -250 | 0.5 +185 |
Royals vs Cardinals RBI Prop Bets Today
| Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|
| Salvador Perez (KC) | 0.5 +125 | 0.5 -160 |
| Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) | 0.5 +130 | 0.5 -165 |
| Nolan Arenado (STL) | 0.5 +160 | 0.5 -210 |
| Willson Contreras (STL) | 0.5 +170 | 0.5 -225 |
| Mark Canha (KC) | 0.5 +175 | 0.5 -235 |
Royals vs Cardinals Strikeout Prop Bets Today
| Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Liberatore (STL) | 3.5 -160 | 3.5 +125 |
| Michael Wacha (KC) | 3.5 -110 | 3.5 -120 |
Cardinals Starting Pitcher Stats & Trends
Matthew Liberatore has allowed an OPS of just .388 (37 PA’s) when he’s behind in the count this season — best among among NL Starters; League Avg: 1.007 — 100th Percentile.
Opposing hitters have a groundball rate of 69% (24/35) against Matthew Liberatore when he’s behind in the count this season — highest among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 40% — 100th Percentile.
Matthew Liberatore’s K:BB ratio is 15.0 (30/2) against right-handed batters this season — 2nd best among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 3.3 — 98th Percentile.
Matthew Liberatore has walked 4% of batters this season — 4th best among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 8% — 96th Percentile.
Royals Starting Pitcher Stats & Trends
Michael Wacha threw his breaking pitches for a strike just 47% (212/452) of the time in the 2024 season — lowest in MLB among starting pitchers with at least 64 total IP; League Avg: 62% — 0 Percentile.
Hitters swung at 28% of Michael Wacha’s breaking pitches (128/452) in the 2024 season — lowest in MLB among starting pitchers with at least 64 total IP; League Avg: 46% — 0 Percentile.
Michael Wacha allowed a slugging percentage of just .242 (16 Total Bases / 66 ABs) on low fastballs in the 2024 season — 2nd best among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .395 — 97th Percentile.
Michael Wacha has a strikeout rate of just 21% (71 SO in 342 PAs) when going through the lineup the first time in a game since last season — 5th lowest among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 26% — 10th Percentile.
Cardinals Keys to the Game vs. the Royals
The Cardinals are just 0-16 (.000) when trailing entering the 9th inning this season — tied for lowest in MLB; League Avg: .044.
The Cardinals are 88-5 (.946) when leading entering the 8th inning since last season — 3rd best in MLB; League Avg: .902.
The Cardinals are 24-1 (.960) when leading entering the 8th inning this season — tied for 4th best in MLB; League Avg: .912.
The Cardinals are 31-22 (.585) when tied entering the 7th inning since the 2023 season — 3rd best in MLB; League Avg: .499.
Royals Keys to the Game vs. the Cardinals
The Royals are just 6-61 (.090) when allowing 5 or more runs since last season — 2nd lowest in MLB; League Avg: .191.
The Royals are just 2-10 (.167) vs top 10 scoring offenses this season They play the Cardinals (22nd best runs scored) today.
The Royals are just 17-86 (.165) when allowing 2 or more home runs since the 2023 season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: .300.
The Royals are just 18-38 (.321) vs top 10 scoring offenses since last season They play the Cardinals (22nd best runs scored) today.
Cardinals Hitting Stats & Trends
The Cardinals are batting .195 on pitches out of the zone this season — best in MLB; League Avg: .148.
Cardinals hitters struck out just 351 times in 1,755 PA’s (20%) against LHP in the 2024 season — tied for 5th best in MLB; League Avg: 23%.
Cardinals hitters have struck out in just 19% of it’s PA’s against RHP this season — 3rd best in MLB; League Avg: 22%.
Cardinals hitters have an OBP of .360 (791 PA’s) at home this season — 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .324.
Royals Hitting Stats & Trends
Royals hitters have struck out in just 18% of it’s PA’s against RHP this season — best in MLB; League Avg: 22%.
Royals hitters have struck out in just 19% of it’s PA’s against RHP since last season — 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: 22%.
Royals hitters had an OBP of just .280 (2,958 PA’s) on the road in 2023 — lowest in MLB; League Avg: .316.
The Royals won only 28% of their road games in the 2023 season — 2nd lowest in MLB; League Avg: 48%.
Cardinals Pitching Stats & Trends
Opponents had a miss rate of just 23% against Cardinals pitchers in 2023 — 2nd lowest in MLB; League Avg: 26%.
Opponents have a miss rate of just 23% against Cardinals pitchers since the 2023 season — 2nd lowest in MLB; League Avg: 26%.
Cardinals pitchers had a strikeout rate of just 19% in 2023 — 2nd lowest in MLB; League Avg: 23%.
Cardinals pitchers have a strikeout rate of just 20% since the 2023 season — 2nd lowest in MLB; League Avg: 23%.
Royals Pitching Stats & Trends
Royals pitchers have walked 4% of batters this month (16 games) — best in MLB; League Avg: 8%.
Royals pitchers have walked 4% of batters over the last 14 days — best in MLB; League Avg: 8%.
Royals pitchers have walked 7% of batters this season — 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: 9%.
The longest HR allowed by the Royals pitchers in the 2024 season traveled 519.4 feet — — longest in MLB; League Avg: 470.4
More MLB Reading:
Bet now on Cardinals vs Royals and all games with BetMGM
Bet on MLB Odds at BetMGM
Sportsbook promos are always available at BetMGM. For new customers, check out the sportsbook welcome offer and BetMGM Refer a Friend. For existing customers, there are Odds Boosts, Parlay Boosts, contests and more.
