Cardinals Look to Reset Behind McGreevy After Royals Rout

The Cardinal Chronicle
Cardinals Look to Reset Behind McGreevy After Royals Rout
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

The St. Louis Cardinals did not get the start they wanted in Kansas City.

After taking two of three from San Diego, the Cardinals opened the I-70 Series with a 14-6 loss to the Royals on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium, a game that got away early and never really settled down. St. Louis jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning, but Kansas City answered with one run in the bottom half and then broke the game open with six runs in the second.

Now the Cardinals turn to right-hander Michael McGreevy on Friday night, hoping he can do what he has done often this season: steady the rotation, work efficiently, and give the club a chance to win.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT at Kauffman Stadium. The game will be carried on Apple TV, with radio coverage on KMOX.

McGreevy enters at 3-5 with a 2.99 ERA, drawing the assignment against Royals right-hander Seth Lugo, who comes in at 2-4 with a 3.86 ERA. On paper, it is the best pitching matchup of the series. For the Cardinals, it may also be the most important game of the series.

Thursday night was a reminder of how quickly a road game can unravel when pitching, defense and missed chances all pile up at once. Matthew Liberatore lasted just 1 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs, five earned, before the Cardinals had to turn the game over to the bullpen far earlier than planned. Kansas City finished with 17 hits and 14 runs, while St. Louis collected 13 hits but stranded too many runners to make the game competitive late.

Masyn Winn and JJ Wetherholt both had three-hit games, and Jose Fermin drove in two runs, but the Cardinals could not turn traffic into enough damage. That has to change Friday. Against Lugo, St. Louis cannot afford empty innings after putting men on base.

The assignment for McGreevy is straightforward: get the Cardinals back into rhythm.

McGreevy has been one of the steadier pieces of the St. Louis rotation this season. He does not overpower hitters in the traditional sense, but he throws strikes, controls tempo and forces opponents to earn their way aboard. That is exactly the kind of profile the Cardinals need after Thursday’s bullpen-heavy loss.

A deep start from McGreevy would do more than give St. Louis a chance to even the series. It would also help protect a bullpen that has been asked to cover too many innings in recent stretches. The Cardinals do not need a masterpiece, but they do need length, command and a cleaner defensive game behind him.

Lugo presents a different challenge. The veteran right-hander is expected to return from the concussion injured list after being sidelined earlier this month when he was struck by a line drive. When he is right, Lugo mixes pitches, changes speeds and keeps hitters from sitting on one look. The Cardinals will need disciplined at-bats and must avoid letting him cruise through early innings.

Kansas City comes into Friday with some momentum after Thursday’s offensive outburst, but also with a major health question. Bobby Witt Jr. left Thursday’s game with right knee discomfort after already homering and driving in another run. His status will be one of the key items to watch before first pitch. Even if Witt is limited or unavailable, the Royals showed Thursday that there is still enough thunder in their lineup to punish mistakes.

Salvador Perez had a big night Thursday, including a historic home run that moved him past George Brett for the most home runs hit at Kauffman Stadium. Jac Caglianone also homered, and the Royals stacked extra-base hits together in the second inning to bury the Cardinals early.

That is the danger for St. Louis. Kansas City’s overall record may not look impressive, but the Royals can still swing the bat, especially when pitchers fall behind and leave balls over the plate.

For the Cardinals, Friday is about response.

Good teams have ugly nights. They do not let ugly nights become ugly weeks.

The Cardinals are still in the National League playoff race, but games like this matter. This is a series St. Louis should expect to win, even on the road. After dropping the opener, the path is simple: win Friday, use Saturday’s off day to reset, and come back Sunday with a chance to take the series finale.

The Cardinals do not need to panic after one bad night. They do need to play cleaner baseball.

That means better starting pitching, sharper defense, more productive at-bats with men on base, and avoiding the kind of crooked inning that flipped Thursday’s game. McGreevy gives them the right pitcher for that kind of assignment.

Game Information

St. Louis Cardinals at Kansas City Royals
Friday, June 19, 2026
First Pitch: 7:15 p.m. CT
Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
TV: Apple TV
Radio: KMOX

Probable Pitchers

St. Louis Cardinals
RHP Michael McGreevy
3-5, 2.99 ERA

Kansas City Royals
RHP Seth Lugo
2-4, 3.86 ERA

What to Watch

Michael McGreevy’s Length
After Thursday’s short start from Matthew Liberatore, the Cardinals need McGreevy to work deep into the game and protect the bullpen.

Cardinals’ Situational Hitting
St. Louis had 13 hits Thursday but could not turn enough of that traffic into runs. The Cardinals need cleaner at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Bobby Witt Jr.’s Status
Witt left Thursday’s game with right knee discomfort. His availability could change the look of Kansas City’s lineup.

Seth Lugo’s Return
Lugo is expected back from the concussion injured list, and the Cardinals need to make him work early rather than letting him settle in.

The Response Factor
The Cardinals were beaten soundly in the opener. Friday is about answering quickly and keeping one rough night from turning into a lost series.

The Bottom Line

The Cardinals were outplayed Thursday night. There is no need to dress that up.

But Friday brings a new game, a steady starter, and a chance to put the series back on level ground. If McGreevy gives St. Louis length and the offense turns traffic into runs, the Cardinals should be in position to answer back.

This is still a series the Cardinals can win.

But after Thursday’s blowout, they no longer have room to coast.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary:
www.cardinalchronicle.com

Photo Credit: Michael McGreevy, St. Louis Cardinals | MLB