Cain-less Royals visit Cardinals’ lair
Just when the Royals thought they were returning to full health, perhaps their biggest injury so far this season cropped up.
Not only did Kansas City drop last night’s 8-4 verdict to St. Louis, Ned Yost’s team lost arguably its most dynamic offensive player. Lorenzo Cain irritated his left hamstring while running to first base in the seventh inning.
With the All-Star outfielder’s immediate prognosis still uncertain, oddsmakers are skeptical of the Royals’ as the interleague series pivots to the Gateway City. Online sports book Bovada.lv lists the Cardinals as 1.5-run favorites this evening, whereas the defending World Series champions are +155 underdogs. The over/under run total comes in at eight.
Cain played in 73 of Kansas City’s first 76 contests, offering stability and production during a largely tumultuous start to the season. If his absence turns out to be a lengthy one, it could cause significantly more strife than when Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas were forced to the sidelines. Other than Cain, first baseman Eric Hosmer is the lone Royal to boast 39 runs scored and at least 119 total bases.
St. Louis remains tremendous healthy – with one exception. Shortstop Aledmys Diaz continues to deal with inflammation around his right eye stemming from an errant foul ball in Monday’s opener. He’ll surely miss out on tonight’s battle against Edinson Volquez, but the rest of the Redbirds have to be psyched about facing someone coming off career-worst start. Last week, the righty surrendered 12 runs in one-plus inning to the Astros.
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On the other side, Mike Matheny hands the ball to budding ace Carlos Martinez. The 24-year-old paces the Cards with seven victories, a 3.02 ERA and that microscopic .209 OBA. In other words, Kansas City’s dinged-up batting order faces an uphill climb.
WEDNESDAY MLB FREE PICK: CARDINALS -1.5
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