The St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals will meet on Sunday, May 18, 2025, in the rubber match of their I-70 Series at Kauffman Stadium, with both clubs entering the day near the top of their respective divisions and looking to build momentum in the tightly packed middle of the MLB season. The series is currently tied at one game apiece after the Royals evened things with a win on Saturday, setting the stage for a high-stakes finale between two evenly matched teams that share similar records and a shared regional rivalry. The Cardinals, sitting at 25–20, have leaned heavily on their veteran cornerstones Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, who have combined for 22 home runs and 65 RBIs while continuing to play elite defense at their respective infield spots. St. Louis will send right-hander Andre Pallante to the mound for Sunday’s game, carrying a 3–2 record and a solid 3.45 ERA into the start, backed by his ability to keep the ball on the ground and manage contact effectively. Pallante’s sinker-heavy approach has helped him avoid big innings, and his success often hinges on staying ahead in counts and letting his infield defense—one of the best in baseball—do the heavy lifting. On the other side, the Royals match up with their own left-handed ace, Cole Ragans, who has emerged as one of the most consistent pitchers in the AL Central with a 4–3 record, 3.60 ERA, and impressive 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Ragans will have his hands full with a Cardinals lineup that punishes mistakes, particularly with runners in scoring position, but his swing-and-miss stuff has proven effective against righty-heavy lineups like St. Louis. Kansas City’s offense is anchored by the electric Bobby Witt Jr., who continues to evolve into a franchise player with a .295 batting average, 11 home runs, and 33 RBIs while providing elite defense at shortstop and threat-level speed on the basepaths. Witt is supported by veteran catcher Salvador Perez, who remains a dangerous bat in the middle of the lineup with nine homers of his own and a knack for driving in runs in big moments. Both teams play fundamentally sound defense—the Cardinals lead with a .985 fielding percentage, closely followed by Kansas City at .983—and the bullpens are similarly reliable, with St. Louis holding a slight edge in ERA (3.80 to Kansas City’s 4.10). Offensively, this game could swing on whichever team gets the big hit with runners on base, and with both lineups capable of manufacturing runs or delivering with power, execution will be critical. Sunday’s finale is not just about winning a series; it’s about setting a tone for the weeks ahead, as both clubs face key divisional matchups and postseason positioning starts to come into focus. With local pride on the line and two competitive teams featuring a blend of veteran leadership and rising stars, fans can expect a well-played, tightly contested finale to one of MLB’s more underrated rivalries.