The Cardinals will send right-hander Lance Lynn to the hill Friday night in Kansas City against Royals righty Chris Young.

Lynn is keeping steady in 2015 after a breakout season in 2014, leading this season’s Cardinals staff with 58 strikeouts and a career-high 10.8 K/9. It will be a challenge to maintain that level of success against a Kansas City club that led the American League in batting average (.287), hits (391) and slugging percentage (.434) entering play Wednesday night.

Young grabbed his third win in Friday’s series opener against the Yankees, holding them to one run through 5 2/3 innings. The Royals will need Young to overcome his winless history with St. Louis, having posted an 0-3 record and 3.65 ERA in five career games against the Cardinals.

Things to know about this game

• In the past 18 years of Interleague action, the Royals and the Cardinals have not both been in first place in their respective divisions in any of the previous 80 games they have played against each other.

• Lynn gave up nine hits and six runs, including three home runs, in his last game at Kauffman Stadium, in 2012.

• Royals slugger Mike Moustakas has homered twice in his last three at-bats against Lynn.