St. Louis @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 24, 2012 ) St. Louis 11, Kansas City 8

The Kansas City Royals have lost 16 of their last 20 contests and begin a three-game series Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals, one of the league’s hottest teams. The Royals are coming off a four-game sweep by the visiting Los Angeles Angels and Tuesday's triumph against the Houston Astros is the only victory on their docket in last 10 games. St. Louis, meanwhile, improved to 7-0-1 in their last eight series with a 5-3 win Sunday against the host Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cardinals continue to receive offense up and down their lineup. Jon Jay, Matt Holliday and Allen Craig, the Nos. 2-4 hitters, combined to go 0-for-13 in Sunday’s game, but No. 8 hitter Pete Kozma went 4-for-4 with three doubles and three RBIs. Kansas City cleanup hitter Billy Butler has one hit in his last five games and his frustration boiled over Sunday when he was ejected in the sixth inning by home plate umpire Marty Foster after arguing a called third strike.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), Fox Sports Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (6-3, 2.38 ERA) vs. Royals RH James Shields (2-5, 2.47)

Wainwright appears to have returned to his 2011 form, when he finished 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA. He came within five outs of a no-hitter May 11 against the Colorado Rockies, eventually settling for a two-hitter in the 3-0 victory. Wainwright threw another gem Tuesday against the San Diego Padres, allowing one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings of a 10-2 victory. His command of the strike zone has been especially impressive as he has recorded six walks and 69 strikeouts in 72 innings for the top strikeout-to-walk ratio in the major leagues. Wainwright's 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA in eight career appearances (five starts) against Kansas City.

Despite allowing six earned runs in 31 innings this month for a 1.74 ERA, he’s 0-3 in four starts in May. The offense has combined for five runs in those games, resulting in three one-run losses and, most recently, a 3-1 defeat Wednesday at the hands of the Astros, the worst team in the American League. Having spent his first seven seasons in the AL, the Cardinals are one of five teams Shields has never faced. Ty Wigginton has the most experience against Shields among St. Louis players and with good results, collecting six hits in 15 at-bats with two home runs.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Royals have hit two home runs in their last 10 games.

2. The Cardinals have not lost a road series since the season opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

3. The Cardinals placed LHP John Gast on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in his throwing shoulder and recalled RHP Michael Blazek from Triple-A Memphis. Gast (2-0) left in the second inning of Saturday’s loss against the Dodgers. He’s the fourth St. Louis starter to join the disabled list.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 3, Royals 2.