Kansas City Royals vs St. Louis Cardinals Picks and Predictions May 17th 2025

Cardinals Stay Red-Hot as Miles Mikolas Leads Charge vs. Slumping Royals

The St. Louis Cardinals are riding a wave of success, while the Kansas City Royals are struggling to regain their early-season form. As the two teams face off in the I-70 Series, the spotlight turns to Miles Mikolas, who takes the mound with hopes of extending the Cardinals’ momentum against a battered Royals squad.

1. Cardinals Soar with 11-1 Run in May

After beginning May with a dismal 14-19 record, the St. Louis Cardinals have surged to an 11-1 run, positioning themselves as one of the hottest teams in the National League. They’ve turned up the heat at the plate and on the mound:

• Team batting average: .286 over last 12 games
• ERA: 2.52
• Opponent batting average: .222
• Extra-base hits: 38 in 12 games

Manager Oliver Marmol isn’t surprised:

“It’s been fun, and I don’t see them taking their foot off the pedal.”

2. Ivan Herrera Shines in Comeback

Catcher Ivan Herrera has returned from a knee injury in top form, slashing .419 with 18 RBIs in just 13 games. In Friday’s 10-3 win, he had three hits including a clutch three-run double that broke the game open. Don’t Miss The Latest Baseball Picks from MLB Expert Handicappers

“I want to do good for the guys,” Herrera said, underscoring the team-first mentality that defines this Cardinals squad.

3. Miles Mikolas Seeks Consistency

Miles Mikolas (2-2, 4.35 ERA) will get the start Saturday. While he’s only pitched six full innings once in eight starts this season, he’s trending in the right direction:

• Last start: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 K in a win over Washington
• Career vs. Royals: 17 scoreless innings in first two starts, struggled in 2024 (5 ER in 4 IP)

Some Royals hitters, notably Jonathan India (8-for-22, 3 HR vs. Mikolas), have fared well against him, but Mikolas will aim to lean on experience and location to get through the Royals’ lineup.

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4. Royals Lose Momentum, Face Rotation Turmoil

The Kansas City Royals have dropped five of their last six, following a red-hot 16-2 stretch. Their offense sputtered on Friday, going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Manager Matt Quatraro summed it up:

“We need to string some more hits together.”

5. Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans Injuries Hit Hard

Injury concerns are piling up for the Royals:

• Seth Lugo (team’s ERA leader) is skipping his rotation turn due to finger inflammation.
• Cole Ragans, their Opening Day starter, exited Friday’s game with left groin tightness.

This puts additional pressure on a thin and unproven rotation.

6. Enter Noah Cameron: A Local Hopeful

The Royals will likely call up Noah Cameron (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for Saturday’s start. The 25-year-old lefty made an eye-popping debut against the Rays on April 30:

• 6.1 IP, 1 H, 5 K, 3 BB, no runs allowed
• From St. Joseph, Missouri, Cameron grew up rooting for the Royals

“It’s awesome to be able to represent (the Royals). It’s special,” said Cameron.

Fans will be eager to see if the hometown kid can cool off the blazing Cardinals offense.

7. Players to Watch: Nootbaar and Witt Jr.

• Lars Nootbaar (Cardinals): Batting .371 during an eight-game hitting streak.
• Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals): Hitting .370 in seven career home games against the Cardinals, though he’s 0-for-6 vs. Mikolas.

Their performances could shape the outcome of Saturday’s game.

Conclusion: Cardinals Look to Extend Dominance in Missouri Showdown

The Cardinals are rolling, and with Mikolas on the mound and the Royals reeling from injuries, they’re poised to take command of the series. Still, all eyes will be on Noah Cameron, whose local ties and stellar debut add a layer of intrigue. For the Royals to break out of their slump, timely hitting and a strong outing from Cameron are musts.