Royals vs Cardinals, June 5: Can Noah Cameron outpitch Miles Mikolas to clinch the series for KC? Bobby Witt Jr. leads the offense. Game 3 preview.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Get ready, Royals Nation! Tonight's the night we look to seal the deal against our I-70 rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, in the rubber match of this exciting three-game series. Riding the momentum of yesterday's win, our Kansas City Royals (32-29) are sending the impressive Noah Cameron to the mound. The atmosphere at Busch Stadium is sure to be electric for this 5:45 PM local time first pitch!
Bobby Witt Jr. enters today's game against the Cardinals with impressive offensive numbers, having hit his 7th home run of the season in yesterday's game. Witt currently leads the Royals with 35 RBIs.
It all comes down to this! The Royals (32-29) and Cardinals (33-27) are locked in for a decisive Game 3. We're looking to build on that one-game winning streak, while the Cards are trying to snap their two-game skid. The man tasked with leading us to victory is Noah Cameron, who's been nothing short of spectacular this season. With a 2-1 record and a microscopic 1.05 ERA over 25.2 innings, his 0.82 WHIP speaks volumes. He'll face off against Cardinals' righty Miles Mikolas (4-2, 3.90 ERA), who has a solid track record but has shown a bit more vulnerability this season with a 1.30 WHIP over 39.1 innings. This pitching duel could very well decide the series.
You can't talk about the Royals' recent success without tipping your cap to the dynamic duo in the infield. Bobby Witt Jr. is on an absolute tear! He smashed his 7th homer of the season yesterday and continues to be the offensive catalyst, leading the team with 35 RBIs. His energy is infectious. Alongside him, Maikel Garcia has been a hitting machine, leading the Royals with a .313 batting average. Garcia's consistency at the plate has been a huge boost, helping to carry the offensive load and keep the pressure on opposing pitchers. These two are the heart and soul of our run production right now.
While the infield is clicking and the pitching has been largely strong, there's an undeniable area of concern: the outfield. Heading into tonight, our outfield unit ranks 29th in bWAR across all of MLB. That's a tough pill to swallow, especially for a team that had won 14 of their last 16 games prior to this series. This has been identified as the team's most glaring need, and their offensive production (or lack thereof) could put a damper on our momentum if it doesn't improve. Tonight would be a fantastic opportunity for the outfield bats to wake up and provide some much-needed support.
Looking at the bigger picture, the Royals currently sit 4th in the AL Central. Our team batting average is .248, with 36 home runs and a respectable 48 stolen bases showing some offensive pop. However, the real standout has been our pitching staff, boasting a collective 3.19 ERA and holding opponents to a .234 batting average. This strength on the mound has kept us competitive in nearly every game. If we can find more consistent offensive contributions, particularly from the outfield, this team has the potential to make some serious noise.
Tonight’s game is more than just another tick in the win or loss column; it’s a chance to make a statement against a division rival and solidify this recent surge. With Cameron dealing and our infield stars shining, let's hope the Royals can overcome the outfield woes and bring home a series victory from Busch Stadium. Go Royals!
