[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/ws3kvYkBgtypiCvAFrmU/1691108091178_210x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLmFueWNsaXAuY29tL2FueWNsaXAtd2lkZ2V0L2xyZS13aWRnZXQvcHJvZC92MS9zcmMvbHJlLmpzIiBkYXRhLWFyPSIxNjo5IiBkYXRhLXBsaWQ9Im81enRnMjN3bGZ2dWV6M3VwZnlnc3Ezd2lmZGhlM2t2IiBwdWJuYW1lPSIyMDYzIiB3aWRnZXRuYW1lPSIwMDE2TTAwMDAyVTBCMWtRQUZfTTgyMjYiPgo8L3NjcmlwdD4=”][/anyclip-media]
The St. Louis Cardinals (49-65) and the Tampa Bay Rays (69-46) play the middle contest of a 3-game interleague series Wednesday at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cardinals vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rays lead 1-0 after Tuesday’s 4-2 series-opening win
The Cardinals have dropped 4 of the past 5 games overall and are 2-5 across the previous 7 outings on the road. St. Louis has dropped 3 of the past 4 interleague outings, too. The Under has hit in 3 straight for the Cards and has cashed 8 of their last 10 games.
The Rays have picked up 2 straight wins while going 6-2 in the previous 8 games overall. The Under is on a 3-1 run for Tampa Bay as the total has gone low in 5 of the past 7 outings overall. The Rays have picked up wins in 3 of the past 4 interleague games after a 7-game losing skid vs. the National League.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
Cardinals at Rays projected starters
RHP Dakota Hudson vs. LHP Jalen Beeks
Hudson (2-0, 4.10 ERA) makes his 3rd start and 9th appearance. He has a 1.37 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9 and 6.8 K/9 in 26 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 7 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 7 K in 7-3 home win vs. Minnesota Twins last Wednesday
- 2023 road splits: 0-0, 3.00 ERA (6 IP, 2 ER – 1 HR), .227 opponent batting average (OBA) in 3 relief appearances
Beeks (2-3, 6.27 ERA) makes his 8th start and 28th appearance. He has a 1.47 WHIP, 4.6 BB/9 and 9.6 K/9 in 37 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 2-1 road loss vs. Oakland Athletics June 13
- 2023 home splits: 2-0, 5.12 ERA (19 1/3 IP, 11 ER – 3 HR), .213 OBA in 3 starts and 12 relief appearances
Cardinals at Rays odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:33 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cardinals +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Rays -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cardinals +1.5 (-150) | Rays -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW23 for $15 OFF a full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 9/30/2023. Subscribe today and start winning!
Cardinals at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Cardinals 5, Rays 4
Moneyline
The CARDINALS (+130) are worth playing as moderate underdogs in the middle game of this series.
Beeks has been shaky as an opener for the Rays and was banished to Triple-A Durham as a result. He returns for the first time since a relief appearance on July 4, and he makes his first start since June 13. Expect the Cardinals to come alive against him, getting off to an early start in a bullpen game for Tampa.
Run line/Against the spread
The CARDINALS +1.5 (-150) are not priced out of line if you’d like a little insurance and just can’t play St. Louis straight up.
St. Louis is 12-4 in the past 16 games as an underdog on the run line, winning straight up in 8 of those outings.
The Rays cashed on the run line as a favorite in the series opener Tuesday and are 5-1 in the past 6 on the run line as favorites so go lightly on the Cards. However, Beeks should get the Rays started off on the wrong foot.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Over/Under
UNDER 9.5 (-110) is the lean, but go lightly.
The Under is 3-1 in the past 4 games for the Rays and has cashed in 18 of their past 26 contests overall.
The Under cashed in the series opener and is 5-1 across the Cards’ past 6 interleague outings. Overall, the Under has cashed in 3 straight for St. Louis and 8 of the previous 10 contests.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]