#Cardinals vs. Royals prediction: Bet against J.A. Happ

The Cardinals are looking to get within shouting distance in the NL playoff picture and turn to J.A. Happ to give the team a good start Sunday at Kansas City.

In two starts since being traded from the Twins to the Cardinals, Happ is 1-1, giving up three runs across 11 innings, but his struggles giving up the deep ball have continued with surrendering a home run in each start.

Dating to his time with the Twins, Happ has a 7.89 ERA across his last 16 starts with 21 home runs allowed, and opponents are hitting .333 off him.

The Royals send Kris Bubic to the mound, who has done his best work at home with a 3.06 ERA and three home runs allowed in 10 pitching appearances across 47 innings while registering a 6.10 ERA on the road with 14 home runs in 38 ¹/₃ innings surrendered.

The Royals entered the weekend fourth in the AL in home batting average at .259, and the Cardinals’ 3.7 runs per game since the start of June are the fewest in the NL. The Cards’ ascent in the playoff standings will not continue Sunday.

The play: Royals, -105.