In this article we will formulate a Rays vs Cardinals prediction for this MLB game on Sunday, August 24th at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Rays are 62-67 this season after they split the first two games in this series by scores of 4-7 and 10-6. In their game two win, Tampa Bay nearly blew a 7-1 lead in the middle innings, but they scored the last three runs to pull away with the win. The Rays recorded 16 hits in the game and they were led by Williams, who went 2-4 with one home run and three RBIs in the win. Tampa Bay started Houser, who allowed six hits and four earned runs over 6.1 innings for the win, while Jax and Baker picked up holds.
Prior to this series, the Rays lost both games against the Yankees, but did win two out of three against the Giants before that. Tampa Bay has lost four of their last five games and they are currently fourth in the AL East standings. The Tampa Bay pitching staff has a 4.03 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and a .239 opponent batting average, while the offense has scored 577 runs with a .251 batting average and a .314 on base percentage this season. Junior Caminero has led Tampa Bay with 36 home runs and 87 RBIs, while Brandon Lowe has added 25 home runs and 63 RBIs for the Rays this year. The projected starting pitcher for Tampa Bay is Ryan Pepiot, who is 8-10 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 148.0 innings pitched this season.
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview
The St. Louis Cardinals are 64-66 this year after they lost game two by a score of 10-6 on Friday night. St. Louis cut the deficit to 7-6 in the seventh inning, but allowed two runs in the bottom of the seventh to seal the loss. The Cardinals recorded nine hits and they committed one error in the game, while they were led by Church and Contreras, who both had two RBIs in the loss. St. Louis started Mikolas, who allowed 10 hits and four earned runs over 2.2 innings for the loss, while Veneziano and Fernandez both allowed two earned runs in relief.
Prior to this series, the Cardinals won two out of three against the Marlins, but lost all three against the Yankees before that. St. Louis has won three of their last five games and they are currently fourth in the NL Central standings. The St. Louis pitching staff has a 4.28 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP and a .258 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 571 runs with a .250 batting average and a .318 on base percentage this season. Wilson Contreras has led St. Louis with 19 home runs, 70 RBIs, and four stolen bases, while Alec Burleson has added 15 home runs and 59 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for St. Louis is Matthew Liberatore, who is 6-10 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP over 122.0 innings pitched this year.
Why the Rays will beat the Cardinals
- The Cardinals have lost each of their last nine day games against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line each of their last five day games against teams that held a losing record.
- The favorites have covered the run line in four of the Rays’ last five games.
- The Cardinals have lost the first inning in four of their last five games against AL East opponents.
- The Cardinals have trailed after 3 innings in 10 of their last 12 road games against opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cardinals have trailed after 5 innings in seven of their last eight road day games.
Why the Cardinals will beat the Rays
- The Cardinals have won each of their last four games as road underdogs following a loss.
- The Rays have lost three of their last four games as home favorites following a home win.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight home games against National League opponents following a win.
- The Cardinals have covered the run line in seven of their last eight road games against American League opponents following a loss.
- The Cardinals have won the first inning in three of their last four day games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cardinals have led after 3 innings in seven of their last eight road games against American League opponents.
- The Cardinals have led after 5 innings in seven of their last eight games against the Rays.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Rays’ last 11 day games against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Eight of the Cardinals’ last nine games as underdogs against American League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in seven of the Rays’ last eight home games.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in seven of the Cardinals’ last eight games against AL East opponents.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last seven appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Yandy Diaz has hit a home run in three of his last four home appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Taylor Walls has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances with the Rays as favorites.
St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts
- Willson Contreras has hit a home run in each of the Cardinals’ last three games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Willson Contreras has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cardinals’ last nine road games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Willson Contreras has recorded a Double in each of his last three appearances with the Cardinals as underdogs against AL opponents.
Rays vs Cardinals Prediction
Tampa Bay was able to snap their losing streak with a win on Friday night in game two of this series, but they have allowed at least six runs in five straight games. The Rays are 33-33 at home this year, while the Cardinals are 29-36 on the road. St. Louis has scored at least six runs in four of their last five and they are facing Pepiot, who has allowed at least four earned runs in three of his last four starts. The Rays are going against Liberatore, who has allowed 3, 3, 2, 1, and 1 earned run in his last five outings. Take the over in this matchup.