Thursday, June 5, 2014, 7:10 PM on FSMW, FSKC

Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

St Louis Cardinals - Wacha, M (4-3) vs. Kansas City Royals - Ventura, Y (2-5)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

In a battle between two solid young starters, Michael Wacha and the St. Louis Cardinals will be going up against Yordano Ventura and the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

Michael Wacha had one of his best outings of the season his last time on the mound when he was able to pitch six strong scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants. He allowed just three hits in that game and struck out seven batters without walking anyone. Wacha now has a 4-3 record on the year and has only given up 59 hits in 73.1 innings of work.

In Lorenzo Cain's three at-bats against Wacha, he is 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout. No one on the Royals has hit a home run off of the 22-year-old yet.

Right-hander Yordano Ventura had his shortest outing of the season last week against the Houston Astros, which resulted in his fourth consecutive loss. He went just 2.2 innings in that start and allowed five earned runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking three. He has a 3.45 ERA through 57.1 innings and has struck out 59 batters.

This will be the first time that any of the Cardinals will face Ventura. So far this season, he has thrown his 97 mph fastball about 60 percent of the time while mixing in a changeup and a curveball.

St Louis Cardinals Betting Trends

St Louis Cardinals are 27-28-3 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for St Louis Cardinals is 0.1

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

Kansas City Royals are 26-28-3 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Kansas City Royals is -0.3

Injuries to Watch

St Louis Cardinals

05/30/14 1B Matt Adams Calf 15-day DL (5/29)
05/24/14 P Kevin Siegrist Forearm 15-day DL (5/24)
05/13/14 P Tyler Lyons Shoulder 15-day DL (5/12)
04/17/14 P Joe Kelly Hamstring 15-day DL (4/17)

Kansas City Royals

06/03/14 DH Billy Butler Rest is not expected to be in the starting lineup Tuesday vs. St. Louis Cardinals
06/01/14 3B Danny Valencia Hand 15-day DL (6/1)
05/02/14 P Bruce Chen Back 15-day DL (4/25)
03/30/14 P Luke Hochevar Elbow 60-day DL (3/21)

Tony's Pick: Take St. Louis

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