Royals vs Cardinals Prediction, Odds & Player Prop Bets Today

• The Royals are -105 favorites vs the Cardinals
• Royals vs Cardinals Over / Under today: 9 Runs
• Royals / Cardinals TV Channel: RYTV | CATV

The Kansas City Royals (-105) visit Busch Stadium to take on the St. Louis Cardinals (-115) on May 17, 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 2:15 pm in St. Louis, MO.

This season, the Royals are 19-27 against the spread (ATS), while the Cardinals are 29-15 ATS.

Royals vs Cardinals Starting Pitchers Today:

• Royals starting pitcher: Stephen Kolek 1-0, 6.76 ERA
• Cardinals starting pitcher: Andre Pallante 4-3, 4.43 ERA

Royals vs. Cardinals Odds, Run Line, Over/Under & Moneyline

Based on recent trends the model predicts the Cardinals will win Sunday‘s MLB game with 51.0% confidence, factoring in game simulations, recent player performances, starting pitchers and injuries.

Bet now on Royals vs Cardinals and all games with BetMGM

We’ve highlighted some favorite MLB player prop bets for Royals players for Sunday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:

Best Royals Player Prop Bets Today:

• Isaac Collins has hit the Runs Under in 14 of his last 15 away games (+12.40 Units / 39% ROI)
• Michael Massey has hit the Home Runs Over in 2 of his last 7 games (+12.00 Units / 171% ROI)
• Carter Jensen has hit the Total Bases Under in 13 of his last 15 games (+11.60 Units / 55% ROI)
• Salvador Perez has hit the Hits Under in 14 of his last 25 away games (+10.60 Units / 40% ROI)
• Bobby Witt Jr. has hit the Singles Over in 18 of his last 25 away games (+9.55 Units / 30% ROI)

And here are some favorite MLB player prop bets for Cardinals players for Sunday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:

Best Cardinals Player Prop Best Bets Today:

• Pedro Pages has hit the Home Runs Over in 2 of his last 7 games at home (+13.00 Units / 186% ROI)
• Jordan Walker has hit the Runs Over in 16 of his last 25 games (+12.30 Units / 48% ROI)
• Andre Pallante has hit the Strikeouts Under in 12 of his last 15 games at home (+9.15 Units / 50% ROI)
• Ivan Herrera has hit the Total Bases Over in 13 of his last 20 games (+9.15 Units / 41% ROI)
• Masyn Winn has hit the Hits Runs and RBIs Over in 16 of his last 25 games (+9.00 Units / 34% ROI)

Royals Best Bets Today:

• The Kansas City Royals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 18 of their last 23 away games (+13.20 Units / 49% ROI)
• The Kansas City Royals have hit the Team Total Under in 13 of their last 19 away games (+6.20 Units / 28% ROI)
• The Kansas City Royals have hit the Game Total Under in 15 of their last 23 away games (+6.05 Units / 24% ROI)

Cardinals Best Bets Today:

• The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the Moneyline in 27 of their last 45 games (+13.85 Units / 30% ROI)
• The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline in 16 of their last 30 games (+10.55 Units / 34% ROI)
• The St. Louis Cardinals have covered the 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line in 21 of their last 30 games (+9.60 Units / 25% ROI)
• The St. Louis Cardinals have covered the Run Line in 22 of their last 30 games (+9.55 Units / 20% ROI)
• The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the Game Total Under in 15 of their last 24 games (+7.30 Units / 28% ROI)

Royals Against the Spread (ATS) Record

Against the spread this season, the Royals are 19-26 against the Run Line (-10.05 Units / -16.78% ROI).

• 19-27 when betting on the Moneyline for -12.4 Units / -22.26% ROI
• 21-25 when betting on the total runs Over for -6.35 Units / -12.55% ROI
• 25-21 when betting on the total runs Under for +2.05 Units / 4.05% ROI

Cardinals Against the Spread (ATS) Record

Against the spread this season, the Cardinals are 29-15 against the Run Line (+6.9 Units / 10.17% ROI).

• 27-18 when betting on the Moneyline for +13.85 Units / 30.17% ROI
• 20-22 when betting on the total runs Over for -4.3 Units / -8.7% ROI
• 22-20 when betting on the total runs Under for -0.25 Units / -0.5% ROI

Cardinals vs Royals Home Run Prop Bets Today

Cardinals vs Royals Total Hits Prop Bets Today

Cardinals vs Royals Strikeout Prop Bets Today

Royals Keys to the Game vs. the Cardinals

The Royals are just 8-18 (.308) after a loss this season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: .480.

The Royals are just 6-17 (.261) on the road this season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: .461.

The Royals are just 14-4 (.778) when leading entering the 8th inning this season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: .895.

The Royals are just 2-10 (.167) vs top 10 scoring offenses this season Today, they face the Cardinals (ninth in runs scored).

Cardinals Keys to the Game vs. the Royals

The Cardinals are 3-15 (.167) when trailing entering the 9th inning this season — 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .050.

The Cardinals are 16-10 (.615) after a win this season — 5th best in MLB; League Avg: .520.

The Cardinals were 69-1 (.986) when leading entering the 9th inning in the 2024 season — tied for 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .949.

The Cardinals were 18-9 (.667) when tied entering the 7th inning in the 2024 season — tied for 3rd best in MLB; League Avg: .498.

Royals Hitting Stats & Trends

Royals hitters are slugging just .218 with two-strikes this season — tied for 2nd lowest in MLB.

Royals hitters have an OPS of just .454 (888 PA’s) with two-strikes this season — 2nd lowest in MLB.

Royals hitters have an OPS of just .622 (857 PA’s) on the road this season — lowest in MLB.

Royals hitters have 41 extra-base hits out of 77 total hits (53%) with the pitcher behind in the count this season — best in MLB.

Cardinals Hitting Stats & Trends

Cardinals hitters have struck out in just 18% of their PA’s against LHP this season — best in MLB.

Cardinals hitters have put 39% of their swings in play against LHP this season — tied for 3rd highest in MLB.

Cardinals hitters have come to the plate with runners in scoring position in 489 of their 1,736 plate appearances (28%) this season — 5th highest in MLB.

Cardinals hitters have struck out in just 17% of their PA’s in lefty-lefty matchups this season — 3rd best in MLB.

Royals Pitching Stats & Trends

Opponents have a groundball rate of just 40% against Royals pitchers this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.

Royals pitchers have walked 11% of batters this season — 4th highest in MLB.

Royals pitchers have picked-off 9 runners from first base this season — most in MLB.

Royals pitchers have allowed three-ball counts to 24% of batters they faced (418/1,736 PA’s) this season — 2nd highest in MLB.

Cardinals Pitching Stats & Trends

Cardinals pitchers have a strikeout rate of just 16% with runners in scoring position this season — lowest in MLB.

Cardinals pitchers have a strikeout rate of just 36% with two-strikes this season — lowest in MLB.

Cardinals pitchers have a strikeout rate of just 18% this season — lowest in MLB.

Cardinals pitchers have struck out just 17% of left-handed batters they faced this season — lowest in MLB.

More MLB Reading:

Bet now on Royals vs Cardinals and all games with BetMGM

Bet on MLB Odds at BetMGM

Sportsbook promos are always available at BetMGM. For new customers, check out the sportsbook welcome offer and BetMGM Refer a Friend. For existing customers, there are Odds Boosts, Parlay Boosts, contests and more.