St Louis, Kansas City Cardinals Begin Key 3-Game MLB Series

The Arizona Cardinals face a critical season where division games against the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks will heavily influence their playoff chances, but key non-division games could also be decisive. Notably, their Monday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys is a potential must-win, especially with quarterback Kyler Murray's exceptional 8-0 record at Cowboys' AT&T Stadium, which could impact their wild-card contention. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals are entering a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals, with both teams holding similar season records and eager to gain momentum. Royals' pitcher Cole Ragans, despite a modest win-loss record, shows strong underlying stats that could be pivotal against the Cardinals, who will counter with Andre Pallante, an average pitcher whose decreased fastball velocity may affect his effectiveness. Offensively, the Cardinals rank 9th in MLB, contrasting with the Royals' 27th place, setting up a matchup where the Royals need to leverage their pitching and home advantage to overcome the Cardinals' stronger lineup. Key players such as Masyn Winn for the Cardinals and Bobby Witt Jr. for the Royals are also highlighted as influential in the upcoming series.