St. Louis @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( May 23, 2018 ) Kansas City 5, St. Louis 2

The St. Louis Cardinals are riding a hot streak led by Matt Carpenter and are threatening to sneak into the postseason in the National League. The Cardinals will try to get started on another series win when they visit the Kansas City Royals for the opener of the latest "I-70 series" on Friday.

Carpenter is up to 31 home runs after bashing his fifth in six games during Wednesday's 7-1 win at Miami that brought St. Louis within 3 1/2 games of the second wild card in the NL. "We're in a good spot as a group," Carpenter told reporters. "We've got a tough road ahead. It's not going to be easy to sneak into the postseason. But you can't ask for anything better than what we've been able to accomplish these last couple weeks." The Royals (35-79) are sinking toward the opposite end of the standings as they try to fight off the Baltimore Orioles and avoid the worst record in the majors - three seasons after winning the World Series. Kansas City will try to throw a wrench into the postseason aspirations of the their cross-state interleague rivals behind righty Burch Smith while the Cardinals counter with rookie lefty Austin Gomber.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals LH Austin Gomber (1-0, 4.10 ERA) vs. Royals RH Burch Smith (1-3, 6.41)

Gomber is making his third career start and second in a row in place of injured righty Carlos Martinez, and is looking to extend deeper into the game after lasting four innings at Pittsburgh on Saturday. The 24-year-old was reached for four runs on seven hits and three walks in that outing while striking out five. Gomber, who also owns 17 appearances out of the bullpen this season, is seeing Kansas City for the first time in his career.

Smith is trying to work his way out of a rough patch after suffering losses at the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins in his last two turns. The 28-year-old was ripped for a total of 11 runs on 12 hits and five walks over nine innings in those two outings, pushing his ERA up by nearly a full run. Smith is seeing St. Louis for the first time this season and is 1-0 with a 5.70 ERA in 15 games - one start - at home in 2018.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright (elbow) is expected to throw a simulated game against minor league hitters at the team's spring training complex on Friday.

2. Kansas City RHP Ian Kennedy (oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday.

3. St. Louis OF Marcell Ozuna went 6-for-11 over the last three games, raising his batting average to .272.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 7, Royals 3