Cardinals chase series-clinching win over scuffling Royals

Despite sitting eight games above .500 ahead of the second contest of a three-game set against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Saturday, the St. Louis Cardinals don't have a roster littered with household names.

That's more than fine with manager Oliver Marmol.

St. Louis' depth was on display in its third win in four tries on Friday, as reserve catcher Yohel Pozo laced a pinch-hit walk-off single to lift the Cardinals a 5-4 victory in 11 innings over Kansas City.

"I know we have a group that's really tough," Marmol said. "They're going to play hard. They're going to play the game the right way and they're going to be hungry to continue to improve. They're going to have a hell of a lot of fun while we do it. That's what I know."

Kyle Leahy (4-3, 4.31 ERA) gets the start for St. Louis on Saturday as the former reliever continues to adjust to his new role. Entering the season, Leahy had just one career start to his name in 98 major league appearances since debuting in July 2023. Thrust into the rotation this year, the 28-year-old right-hander appears to be gaining comfort with his new responsibilities.

In a pair of starts this month, Leahy is 1-0 with a 0.87 ERA. He enjoyed the best start of his big-league career on Sunday, giving up just two hits across five scoreless innings, striking out five and walking four in a no-decision against the San Diego Padres. The Cardinals lost 3-2 in 10 innings despite the strong effort.

In three career relief appearances against the Royals, all of them last year, Leahy allowed one run in 4 2/3 frames.

Kansas City, meanwhile, is hoping to find its way out of a tailspin. The Royals sit in last place in the American League Central and have dropped five straight games and seven of the past nine.

Manager Matt Quatraro's team left 11 runners on base in the series-opening defeat.

"If we put up crooked numbers it changes the complexion of every game, and that didn't happen," Quatraro said. "Sometimes the big hit eludes you."

Noah Cameron (2-2, 5.55) will make his eighth start of the year for Kansas City as the second-year left-hander looks to right the ship amid a lackluster stretch. After allowing just two runs across his first two starts of the season, Cameron has pitched to a 7.20 ERA over his past five outings.

On Sunday, the 26-year-old lasted just four-plus innings, allowing three runs on four hits, striking out four and walking three in a no-decision against the Detroit Tigers. The Royals lost 6-3.

"It was a battle. Obviously his pitch count got up there," Quatraro said of the outing in which Cameron hurled 95 pitches. "He was just behind too many guys, and working from behind is going to be challenging. It's just execution more than anything. I think when you don't execute, you try to be more perfect and (it) gets away from you."

Cameron is searching for his first road win of the season in his third career meeting with St. Louis. In two starts against the Cardinals as a rookie last season, he went 0-1 despite posting a 0.73 ERA.

--Field Level Media