St. Louis Cardinals vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction 8/21/2025 Today’s MLB Picks

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Thursday in MLB action from Steinbrenner Field. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a St. Louis Cardinals vs. Tampa Bay Rays prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The St. Louis Cardinals will send out Sonny Gray for the start here and Gray is 11-6 with a 4.30 ERA and 155 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Rays, Gray is 1-4 with a 4.45 ERA and 29 strikeouts. The Rays did not have a starting pitcher announced at the time that this article was posted.

St. Louis Cardinals Recap

The St. Louis Cardinals come into this game looking to rebound from their 6-2 loss at the hands of the Miami Marlins last time out to sit at 63-65 this season. After this series, the Cardinals will head home for a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cardinals Lose 6 Of Last 8

Brendan Donovan has a team-high 118 hits along with 25 doubles, 9 home runs and 45 RBIs while Lars Nootbaar has 93 hits with 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, 19 doubles and 4
stolen bases. Nolan Arenado also has 85 hits with 15 doubles, 10 home runs and 43 RBIs of his own and Victor Scott II has 78 hits with 14 doubles, a triple, 35 RBIs and a team-high 31 stolen bases. Willson Contreras has also chipped in 110 hits with 29 doubles, 17 home runs and 67 RBIs of his own as well this season. Masyn Winn’s added 114 hits with 26 doubles, 9 home runs and 46 RBIs and Alec Burleson’s added 115 hits with 20 doubles, 15 home runs and 57 RBIs.

Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win

The Cardinals have won each of their last six road games against American League opponents.
The Rays have lost each of their last four games against NL Central opponents.
The Cardinals have covered the run line in each of their last eight night games following a road loss.
The Rays have failed to cover the run line in 12 of their last 13 home games after playing the previous day.

St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts

Alec Burleson has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances with the Cardinals as favorites against AL opponents.
Sonny Gray has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last 11 appearances with his team as a favorite against AL opponents.
Willson Contreras has recorded at least one hit in 14 of his last 15 appearances against AL opponents.
Sonny Gray has recorded a win in eight of his last nine appearances with the Cardinals as favorites against AL opponents.
Willson Contreras has recorded a Double in four of the Cardinals’ last five games as road favorites.

Tampa Bay Rays Recap

The Tampa Bay Rays come into this game looking to rebound from their 6-4 loss at the hands of the New York Yankees last time out to sit at 61-66 this season. After this series, the Rays will head on the road for a series against the Cleveland Guardians.

Rays Lose Three In A Row

Jonathan Aranda has 113 hits with 22 doubles, 12 home runs and 54 RBIs. Brandon Lowe has 105 hits with 24 homers and 61 RBIs as well while Junior Caminero has 121 hits with 21 doubles, a team-high 35 home runs and 85 RBIs. Yandy Diaz has 133 hits with 22 doubles, 20 homers and 71 RBIs.

Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win

The Rays have won each of their last eight home games following an extra innings loss.
The Cardinals have lost each of their last six games against AL East opponents.
The Rays have covered the run line in each of their last 20 Thursday games as underdogs.
The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games as favorites.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in two of the Rays’ last three games against the Cardinals.
Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last eight night games against opponents that held a losing record.
Josh Lowe has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
Chandler Simpson ranks T2nd in the league in Steals (36) this season.

Total Runs Facts

Each of the Rays’ last 13 home games against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
Six of the Cardinals’ last seven night games against AL East opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction

I’m backing the Rays here. I don’t love the form of Sonny Gray on the road this season and he’s really had issues in a lot of his recent starts away from St. Louis. The Rays aren’t playing the most consistent baseball right now, but I think in the end, I trust the Rays to get to Gray in this ballpark and to get the job done in this one. Give me Tampa Bay in this spot.