Tampa Bay Rays vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction MLB Picks 8/8/24

In this article we will formulate a Tampa Bay Rays vs St. Louis Cardinals prediction for this MLB game on Thursday, August 8th at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. To formulate this prediction for game three in the series, we will examine:

• The Rays recent form and recent player performance 
• The Cardinals recent form and recent play performance
• Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Tampa Bay
• Recent Betting trends and streaks involving St. Louis
• Recent betting trends in games played between Tampa Bay and St. Louis
• A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Today’s Game between Tampa Bay and St. Louis

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays are 57-56 this season and they have split their last four games. Tampa Bay has lost the first two games in this series and they have scored three runs or fewer in five of their last six games. Prior to this series, the Rays won two out of three against the Astros, split two games with the Marlins, and won two out of three against the Reds. Tampa Bay is 5-4 in their last nine games and they are fourth in the AL East. 

The Tampa Bay pitching staff has a 4.01 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a .241 opponent batting average. The Rays offense has scored 446 runs with a .234 batting average and a .312 on base percentage. Yandy Diaz is batting .274 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI’s for the Rays this season. 

St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview

The St. Louis Cardinals are 59-56 this year and they have won three of their last five games. St. Louis has won the first two games in this series by scores of 4-3 and 5-2. Prior to this series, the Cardinals lost a makeup game against the Mets, lost three out of four against the Cubs, and won two out of three against the Rangers. St. Louis is 5-4 in their last nine games and they are second in the NL Central. 

The St. Louis pitching staff has a 4.07 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and a .250 opponent batting average. The Cardinals offense has scored 477 runs with a .246 batting average and a .309 on base percentage. Nolan Arenado is batting .268 with 11 home runs and 50 RBI’s for the Cardinals this season. 

Starting Pitchers

The projected starting pitcher for Tampa Bay is Shane Baz, who is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP over 25.0 innings pitched this year. Baz has allowed two earned runs in each of his last two outings. The projected starting pitcher for St. Louis is Kyle Gibson, who is 7-4 with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP over 120.1 innings pitched this season. Gibson has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his last five starts.

Why the Cardinals will beat the Rays

• The Cardinals have won each of their last seven games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
• The Rays have lost each of their last four road games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• The Cardinals have covered the run line in six of their last seven games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
• The Rays have failed to cover the run line in three of their last four games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• The Rays have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• The Rays have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Rays’ last seven games as underdogs against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Each of the Cardinals’ last four games as home favorites have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last four games as road underdogs against NL Central opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cardinals’ last three night games at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts

• Masyn Winn has recorded a Double in each of the Cardinals’ last five games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
• Alec Burleson has scored at least one run in seven of the Cardinals’ last eight games as favorites against AL opponents.
• Alec Burleson has recorded at least one Single in eight of the Cardinals’ last nine home games against AL East opponents.
• Tommy Pham has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four home appearances against AL opponents.
• Tommy Pham has recorded at least one total base in each of his last eight appearances against the Rays.
• Tommy Pham has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances with the Cardinals as home favorites against the Rays.
• Tommy Pham has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight appearances against the Rays.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in two of the Rays’ last three road games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Rays’ last four road games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Jose Siri has recorded at least one Single in each of the Rays’ last four night games.
• Brandon Lowe has scored at least one run in six of his last seven appearances with the Rays as road underdogs against NL opponents.
• Jose Siri has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• Jose Siri has recorded at least one total base in each of his last nine appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.

 Tampa Bay Rays vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction 

St. Louis comes into this game looking for the series sweep, as they try to stay within striking distance of the Brewers in the NL Central. St. Louis is 31-26 at home this year, while Tampa Bay is 27-27 on the road. The Rays have hovered right around the .500 mark all season and their offense is slumping right now. Tampa Bay is starting Shane Baz, who has been solid in his last two starts. The Cards are going with Kyle Gibson, who continues to be fairly inconsistent this year. I don’t love Kyle Gibson in this matchup, but I do think he can find success against this struggling Rays lineup. My Tampa Bay Rays vs St. Louis Cardinals prediction is for St. Louis to win.