Monday’s pitching matchup at Busch Stadium smacked of potential shutout, take your pick.
The Cardinals sent out righthander Jack Flaherty, who had a near record-breaking 0.91 earned run average after the All-Star break in 2019 and had allowed two runs in two previous starts against the Kansas City Royals. Kansas City offered up righthander Brad Keller, whose ERA for three starts this season was 0.00 and who had held Cardinals hitters to five hits in 50 at-bats (.100) in his career.
For four innings, expectations were met. Flaherty held the Royals to one hit and Keller limited the Cardinals to three singles, with the Cardinals scoring a in the first without benefit of a hit.