The St. Louis Cardinals are doing their usual May thing where they look like one of the best teams in baseball. Though, this season is different. The run differential is +38, their expected win-loss record is actually better than their overall record (26-19 compared to 25-20), and they’re doing it with several consistent forces up and down the lineup, starting pitchers are going deep into starts more often than not, and the bullpen has gained its footing and is helping the Cardinals win close games now that they were losing in April.

The Cardinals have won 11 of their last 12 and are 1 game back of the division leading Chicago Cubs. Today they’ll be opposed by the Kansas City Royals, who are a decent team, and are slightly overperforming their expected record being 25-21 as compared to their .500 expected W/L of 23-23 with a -1 run differential.

Advertisement

The Cardinals will send Miles Mikolas to the hill to be opposed by Noah Cameron, native of St. Joseph, Missouri, is the Royals number 5 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and made his big-league debut on April 30th against the Rays where he took a no hitter into the 7th inning. He was the beneficiary of some spectacular defense behind him. Cameron does not avoid a lot of contact which should benefit a Cardinals offense who is very good at making consistent hard contact. Cameron throws a 4SFB averaging 92 MPH, a Slider averaging 83 MPH, a Cutter at 87 MPH, a Changeup at 81 MPH, and a good 12-6 Curveball that he only thew 6% of the time but is visually fun to watch from his 55 degree over the top angle from the left side.

How to watch: FanDuel Sports Midwest

How to listen: 1120 AM KMOX/ 104.1 FM

First pitch: 6:10 PM

Advertisement

Todays matchup:

STL Miles Mikolas (2-2 4.35 ERA 4.47 xERA 3.74 FIP 5.14 xFIP)

Vs

KC Noah Cameron (1-0 0.00 ERA 4.41 xERA 4.53 FIP 5.90 xFIP)

Player to watch:

STL: Ivan Herrera – Through 50 PA’s Ivan Herrera has an xwOBA of .488, an xBA of .352, and an xSLG of .756. Those numbers would rank in the 100th percentile of all qualified hitters. The Cardinals have a potential young middle of the order bat developing before our eyes and underlying data suggests the offense is real. The only question continues to be his defensive home. But if he’s a top bat in baseball it wont matter much if that comes from behind the plate, at first base, or DH. The BAT is the carrying tool.

Advertisement

KC: Bobby Witt Jr – an xwOBA of .396, xBA of .316, and an xSLG of .528 makes Bobby Witt Jr. one of the most complete and dangerous hitters in all of MLB. Combined that with 6 OAA (99th percentile) and a max sprint speed of 30.3 (ft/s) (100th percentile.) The Royals have a true 5 tool superstar who impacts the game in every facet and elite at doing so. This guy is a perennial all-star, gold glove, silver slugger, MVP type.

More from vivaelbirdos.com: