The key to success for Cardinals聽right-hander Andre Pallante is simple.
Pallante starts Tuesday as the Cardinals open a three-game home series vs. the Royals at 6:45 p.m. at Busch Stadium.
For聽Pallante (4-3, 4.23 ERA), keeping opponents on the ground is usually the difference between success and failure.
When batters hit flyballs against Pallante over the last month, they're producing a 1.316 on-base plus slugging percentage. Thankfully for Pallante and the Cardinals, this rarely聽happens.
Kansas City is the worst team in baseball in producing runs off flyballs.
The Royals are hitting an MLB-worst .157 on flyballs. They slug .398 on flyballs, also worst in baseball.
Their .551 on-base plus slugging percentage on flyballs is 90 points behind the next-worst team.
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For comparison, the Cardinals have a .720 OPS on fly balls, which still puts them in the bottom quarter of MLB teams but far ahead of the Royals.
The median big league team has an OPS just north of .800 on flyballs.
With 34 home runs, Kansas City ranks last in baseball, nine homers behind the next-worst team and about one-third as many as baseball's leaders.
Last month in Kansas City, Pallante limited the Royals to two earned runs in seven innings in one of his best starts of the season.
Additionally, Pallante is significantly better at home (3.86 ERA this season) vs. the road (4.43).
The Royals will send out right-hander Michael Lorenzen (3-6, 4.33 ERA).
Lorenzen, who began his career as a reliever with the Reds, has a 2.51 ERA vs. 蜜芽传媒 in 36 appearances, 33 of them in relief.
He allowed three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings last August in his only outing vs. 蜜芽传媒 in recent seasons.
蜜芽传媒 allowed five total runs in taking two of three from the Royals on May 16-18 in Kansas City.
The Cardinals are 33-26, second in the National League Central and four games behind the Cubs. The Brewers, winners of eight straight, are a game behind 蜜芽传媒.
The Royals are 31-29, fourth in the American League Central.
Top Royals prospect聽Jac Caglianone called up
The Royals hope that Monday's call-up of top prospect Jac Caglianone can help address some of their power deficiencies.
He bats sixth and serves as designated hitter Tuesday.
Caglianone, picked No. 6 last year, has been hitting the ball as hard as anyone in his 79 minor league games.
How to watch Cardinals vs. Royals
When:聽6:45 p.m. Tuesday
Where:聽Busch Stadium in 蜜芽传媒
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .
Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Lars Nootbaar, LF
2. Masyn Winn, SS
3. Brendan Donovan, 2B
4. Willson Contreras, 1B
5. Iv谩n Herrera, C
6. Nolan Arenado, 3B
7. Alec Burleson, RF
8. Nolan Gorman, DH
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Andre Pallante, RHP
ROYALS
1. Jonathan India, 2B
2. Bobby Witt Jr., SS
3. Maikel Garcia, 3B
4. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B
5. Salvador Perez, C
6. Jac Caglianone, DH
7. Nick Loftin, LF
8. Drew Waters, RF
9. Kyle Isbel, CF
P: Michael Lorenzen, RHP
Injury report
Jordan Walker, OF (left wrist inflammation):聽Walker felt pain in his left wrist during the Cardinals鈥 most recent home stand and had the level of that pain go 鈥渋n and out鈥 when the club traveled to Baltimore for a three-game series, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. Walker attempted to take on-field batting practice Friday before the Cardinals鈥 opened a three-game series vs. the Ranger but 鈥渄idn鈥檛 feel good" after taking a couple of swings, Marmol added. The Cardinals placed Walker on the 10-day injured list, a move that is retroactive to Thursday, knowing his injury would keep him out 鈥渟everal days.鈥 Marmol believes Walker鈥檚 stay won鈥檛 be longer than the 10 days and may not require a rehab assignment.聽Updated May 31
Zach Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain):聽Lefty returned to Jupiter, Florida, and a resumption of his throwing program after going through a battery of exams and evaluations in 蜜芽传媒 over the past week. He did not receive any additional treatments, which was a good result as they set up a plan for him to recover from a setback.聽Updated May 26
