Show-Me showdown: Is Royals-Cardinals weekend series a World Series preview?
THE I-70 SERIES
Royals won it four games to three in 1985. Crushed ’em in game seven.
Oh, the regular-season series? The Cardinals own a 46-34 lead over the Royals. The two teams have played every year since 1997. St. Louis has won 10 season series, the Royals six, with two draws.
▪ DIVISION LEADERS: The Royals and Cardinals meet as first-place teams for the first time since June 29, 2003. Neither team finished first that season.
▪ FAST STARTS: The Royals’ 26-14 record is the best 40-game record in franchise history. Last year, they were 20-20 at the season’s quarter pole. The Cardinals got to the 40-game mark Wednesday at 27-13, the franchise’s best 40-game record since 1941, Stan Musial’s rookie year.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
▪ Friday, 7:10 p.m.: Chris Young (3-0, 0.94) vs. Lance Lynn (3-3, 2.96)
▪ Saturday, 6:10 p.m.: Danny Duffy (2-3, 5.87) vs. John Lackey (2-2, 2.96)
▪ Sunday, 1:10 p.m.: Edinson Volquez (3-3, 2.74) vs. Michael Wacha (6-0, 2.13)
FIRST-PLACE NUMBERS
LEADERS | Royals | Cardinals |
Batting average | Mike Moustakas, .342 | Matt Holliday, .328 |
Home runs | Eric Hosmer, 7 | Matt Carpenter, 7 |
RBIs | Kendrys Morales, 32 | Carpenter, 24 |
ERA (starter) | Edinson Volquez, 2.74 | Michael Wacha, 2.13 |
Saves | Greg Holland, Wade Davis, 7 | Trevor Rosenthal, 13 |
ROYALS STATS
5.05*
runs per game
3.45
runs allowed per game
.288*
batting average
29
home runs
3.24
ERA
CARDINALS STATS
4.53
runs per game
3.00*
runs allowed per game
.271
batting average
34
home runs
2.72*
ERA
*leads the majors; as of Wednesday
This story was originally published May 22, 2015 at 9:34 AM with the headline "Show-Me showdown: Is Royals-Cardinals weekend series a World Series preview?."