Helmet, Clothing, Footwear

Kansas City Royals vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction 6/5/25 MLB Picks

Pick details

St. Louis Cardinals (33-27) vs Kansas City Royals (32-29)

June 5, 2025 at 07:45 PM EDT

The Line: Betting Odds: St. Louis Cardinals -118 / Kansas City Royals -102 — Over/Under: 7.5

(Get latest betting odds)

The Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals meet Thursday in MLB doubleheader action from Busch Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Kansas City Royals will send out Noah Cameron for the start in game one, and Cameron is 2-1 with a 1.05 ERA and 16 strikeouts this season. Cole Ragans will get the start for the Royals in game two, and Ragans is 2-3 with a 4.53 ERA and 72 strikeouts. Miles Mikolas will get the start for the Cards in game one and is 4-2 with a 3.90 ERA and 34 strikeouts this season. Matthew Liberatore will get the nod in game two and is 3-4 with a 3.08 ERA and 56 strikeouts this season.

Kansas City Royals Recap

The Kansas City Royals come into this game looking to build on their 10-7 win over the Cardinals to start the series on Tuesday to improve to 32-29 on the year. After this series, the Royals will head on the road for a set against the Chicago White Sox.

Royals Alternate Wins & Losses In 6 Straight

Bobby Witt Jr. has a team-high 66 hits with 22 doubles and 20 stolen bases, along with 3 triples, 6 home runs, and 31 RBIs, while Vinnie Pasquantino has 58 hits with 6 doubles, a triple, 8 home runs, and 31 RBIs. Maikel Garcia added 66 hits with 14 doubles, 5 home runs, and 25 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases, and Salvador Perez also has 4 home runs and 26 RBIs, but also has the unfortunate distinction of leading the Royals with 50 strikeouts so far this season.

Why the Kansas City Royals will win

  • The underdogs have won seven of the Royals’ last eight games.
  • The Cardinals have lost eight of their last 10 games as favorites against AL Central opponents.
  • The Royals have covered the run line in each of their last eight games at Busch Stadium.
  • The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in nine of their last 10 games as favorites against AL Central opponents.

Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts

  • Salvador Perez has hit at least one home run in five of his last seven appearances at Busch Stadium against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
  • Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one RBI in seven of his last eight road appearances against NL Central opponents.
  • Bobby Witt Jr. has scored at least one run in each of the Royals’ last eight road games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
  • Salvador Perez has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 15 road appearances after not playing the previous day.
  • Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one Single in each of the Royals’ last 12 games against opponents that held a winning record.
  • Michael Massey has recorded a Double in four of his last five road appearances against NL Central opponents.
  • Bobby Witt Jr. ranks 4th in the league in Steals (20) this season.

St. Louis Cardinals Recap

The St. Louis Cardinals come into this game looking to bounce back from a 10-7 loss at the hands of Kansas City last time out to slip to 33-27 on the year. After this series, the Cardinals will square off against the Los Angeles Dodgers at home.

Cardinals Trying To Find Some Consistency

Brendan Donovan has a team-high 70 hits along with 19 doubles, 4 home runs, and 24 RBIs, while Lars Nootbaar has 56 hits with 8 home runs, 28 RBIs, 12 doubles, and 4 stolen bases. Nolan Arenado also has 47 hits with 10 doubles, 6 home runs, and 27 RBIs of his own, and Victor Scott II has 45 hits with 8 doubles, a triple, 19 RBIs, and a team-high 16 stolen bases. Willson Contreras has also chipped in 50 hits with 6 home runs and 31 RBIs of his own this season.

Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win

  • The Cardinals have won eight of their last nine day games at Busch Stadium following a home loss.
  • The Royals have lost seven of their last eight games following a win.
  • The Cardinals have covered the run line in each of their last six games on the first leg of a doubleheader.
  • The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four games following a win.

St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts

  • Willson Contreras has recorded at least one RBI in nine of his last 10 home appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
  • Miles Mikolas has recorded three or more strikeouts in each of his last 14 home appearances against AL opponents.
  • Willson Contreras has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 home appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
  • Nolan Arenado has recorded at least one Single in nine of the Cardinals’ last 10 day games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
  • Alec Burleson has scored at least one run in each of the Cardinals’ last four games as favorites against the Royals.
  • Miles Mikolas has recorded a win in four of his last five appearances with the Cardinals as favorites against AL Central opponents.
  • Alec Burleson has hit a home run in three of the Cardinals’ last four games as favorites against the Royals.
  • Brendan Donovan has recorded a Double in six of the Cardinals’ last seven games against the Royals.
  • Victor Scott II ranks T8th in the league in Steals (16) this season.

Total Runs Facts

  • Each of the Cardinals’ last four home games on the first leg of a doubleheader have gone OVER the total runs line.
  • Four of the Royals’ last five games as underdogs against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.

Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction

I’m on the Royals in game one as Cameron has been strong out of the gate, and Miles Mikolas is still not as good of a pitcher as he has been this season, as I think he’s pitching above his pay grade. In the second game, I’m on the under here as I think both teams scuffle against a lefty, and I think game two is just low-scoring. Give me the Royals game one, under in game two.

Chris Ruffolo's Pick: Royals Game One / Under Game Two

Need More? Get Premium Picks

Hot Cappers this week

Latest Picks & Game Previews

  • Ana Bogdan vs Varvara Gracheva Prediction 07/14/2025 Iasi Picks

    July 14, 2025

  • Lois Boisson vs Julia Grabher Prediction 07/14/2025 Hamburg Picks

    July 14, 2025

  • Stan Wawrinka vs Alexander Shevchenko Prediction 07/14/2025 Gstaad Picks

    July 14, 2025