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Pujols, Cardinals look to continue mastery over Royals

Jun 12, 2007 - 1:39 PM St Louis (27-33) at Kansas City (24-40) 8:10 pm EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals haven't had much to be happy about this season. However, the prospect of facing the Kansas City Royals may bring a smile to their faces.

Pujols and the Cardinals seek to ignite a hot streak when they begin a three-game interleague series vs. the Royals on Tuesday.

St. Louis beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 9-6, on Sunday. It was the first interleague win in six tries for the defending world champions this season. However, the Cardinals have had great success vs. the Royals in the past.

St. Louis is 17-7 all-time in the regular season vs. Kansas City, including victories in 11 of the last 12 at Kauffman Stadium. Pujols has especially enjoyed his matchups with the Royals, batting .400 (30-for-75) with seven homers and 20 RBI in 18 games here.

The Cardinals send Brad Thompson (4-1, 4.56 ERA) to the mound seeking his fourth win in his last five starts. The righthander is 3-1 since being inserted into the rotation in May.

In his last start, the 26-year-old allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings last Wednesday, but did not factor in the decision of a 6-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Kansas City, which scored a season-high 17 runs in a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, is 4-2 in interleague action this season.

Brian Bannister (2-3, 3.33) toes the rubber for the Royals aiming for his third straight victory. The righthander, who has never faced St. Louis, yielded one unearned run and five hits seven innings in a 4-3 victory vs. the Cleveland Indians last Wednesday.

The Royals, who are tied with the Texas Rangers for the fewest home victories (11), have the second-worst record in the majors.