Cardinals at Royals
The Kansas City Royals are reduced to playing spoiler the rest of the way, and helping to knock their cross-state rivals out of the race in the National League Central could motivate the club. The Royals begin a five-game homestand against NL wild card hopefuls by hosting the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.
Kansas City is 43-76 but comes in with some momentum after taking two at Detroit over the weekend behind slugger Jorge Soler, who went 4-for-7 with three homers and seven RBIs in the two wins and is approaching Mike Moustakas' club record of 38 home runs. "Obviously, the record is there and every player always wants to break a record," Soler, who reached 35 on the season with a pair of blasts Sunday, told reporters through an interpreter, "but that's not what I think about. Right now, I feel really, really good. I'm recognizing pitches as soon as the ball leaves the pitcher's hand, and that's my key." The Cardinals are one-half game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers in a crowded race for the second NL wild card and two behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central while carrying their own momentum after sweeping a three-game series from the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend. St. Louis will try to stay ahead of the pack behind right-hander Jack Flaherty on Tuesday while the Royals, who host the New York Mets after the Cardinals, counter with righty Glenn Sparkman.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (5-6, 3.72 ERA) vs. Royals RH Glenn Sparkman (3-7, 5.71)
Flaherty allowed a total of four runs in his last six starts and is coming off a dominating effort at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in which he scattered four hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out 10. The 23-year-old owns 49 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings over his last six turns. Flaherty made a start at Kansas City last season and breezed through seven innings on two runs and three hits while striking out nine to earn a win.
Sparkman was ripped for four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings at Boston on Wednesday and failed to complete six innings in each of his last four outings. The 27-year-old Texan served up a total of 22 earned runs and 31 hits - seven homers - in 19 2/3 innings over those last four starts. Sparkman tossed 1 1/3 innings out of the bullpen at St. Louis on May 22 and did not allow a run.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals RF Jose Martinez (shoulder) left Sunday’s game and is day-to-day.
2. Kansas City 3B Hunter Dozier recorded multiple home runs in two of his last four games.
3. St. Louis C Yadier Molina (thumb) is expected to come off the injured list in time for Monday’s game.