  Electronic open-shell ground-state properties of selected alkali-metal (AM) -
alkaline-earth-metal (AEM) polar molecules are investigated. We determine
potential energy curves of the 2{\Sigma}+ ground state at the coupled-cluster
singles and doubles with partial triples (CCSD(T)) level of electron
correlation. Calculated spectroscopic constants for the isotopes (23Na, 39K,
85Rb) - (40Ca, 88Sr) are compared with available theoretical and experimental
results. The variation of the permanent dipole moment (PDM), average dipole
polarizability, and polarizability anisotropy with internuclear distance is
determined using finite-field perturbation theory at the CCSD(T) level. Owing
to moderate PDM (KCa: 1.67 D, RbCa: 1.75 D, KSr: 1.27 D, RbSr: 1.41 D) and
large polarizability anisotropy (KCa: 566 a.u., RbCa: 604 a.u., KSr: 574 a.u.,
RbSr: 615 a.u.), KCa, RbCa, KSr, and RbSr are potential candidates for
alignment and orientation in combined intense laser and external static
electric fields.
