The St. Louis Cardinals (63-65) face the Tampa Bay Rays (61-66) in the opener of a 3-game set Thursday. First pitch from George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa is set for 7:35 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Cardinals vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting; Cards won 2-1 last year

The Cardinals failed to complete a 3-game sweep at the Miami Marlins Wednesday with a 6-2 loss as slight +101 underdogs as the O/U total (8) pushed. RHP Andre Pallante (5 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 4 K) got torpedoed again, and St,. Louis never found its stride. 1B Willson Contreras hit his team-leading 17th homer of the season as the Cards have lost 6 of 8 — having lost 5 in a row before the Marlins series. St. Louis is 5 games out of a playoff spot.

The Rays have dropped 3 straight — 1 at San Francisco Sunday and 2 at home to the New York Yankees Tuesday and Wednesday — following a 3-game win streak. Wednesday’s 6-4 defeat in 10 innings saw the Rays, who were -108, muster just 4 hits. As a matter of fact, Yankees rookie RHP Cam Schlittler was perfect through 6, not allowing a baserunner until LF Chandler Simpson singled to lead off the seventh.

However, the Rays tied it at 3-all thanks to 1B Bob Seymour’s solo HR in the eighth and C Hunter Feduccia 2-run, 2-out double in the ninth. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay — and Under (8.5) bettors — New York PH-RF Giancarlo Stanton smacked a 2-run homer on a full count to lead off the top of the 10th and C Austin Wells followed with a solo blast — both HRs coming off RHP Pete Fairbanks (1 IP, 2 ER, 3 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K). The Rays, who are 6½ games out of a playoff spot, struck out 16 times, led by Yandy Diaz’s golden sombrero (4 K’s).

This 3-game series will take Saturday off and wrap up Sunday. Originally scheduled Friday through Sunday, the middle contest was moved to Thursday to avoid traffic congestion due to an NFL preseason Tampa Bay Buccaneers game.

Cardinals at Rays projected starters

RHP Sonny Gray vs. RHP Joe Boyle

Gray (11-6, 4.30 ERA) makes his 26th start. He has a 1.19 WHIP, an NL-best 1.5 BB/9 and 9.9 K/9 over 140 1/3 innings.

Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 6 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 7 K in 12-8 setback vs. Yankees SaturdayLast 5 starts vs. Rays: 1-4, 4.45 ERA (30 1/3 IP, 15 ER), 1.19 WHIP, 29 K, last facing them in 2024 (Win, 7 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K in St. Louis)Career vs. Rays: 5-6, 4.07 ERA (90 2/3 IP, 41 ER), 1.32 WHIP, 7.9 K/9 in 16 games (14 starts)

Boyle (1-2, 4.68 ERA) makes his sixth start (10th appearance). He has a 1.19 WHIP, 5.0 BB/9 and 9.4 K/9 through 32 2/3 innings.

Last start: No-decision, 2 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K in 7-6 win at San Francisco Giants FridayHas never faced Cardinals since MLB debut September, 20232025 home/road splits: 1-0, 0.60 ERA, 0.60 WHIP (15 IP, 1 ER), 4 H, 5 BB, 12 K in 4 home games (2 starts) vs. 0-2, 8.15 ERA (17 2/3 IP, 16 ER), 1.70 WHIP, 17 H, 13 BB, 22 K in 5 road outings (3 starts)

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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 4:02 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Cardinals -118 (bet $118 to win $100) | Rays -102 (bet $102 to win $100)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cardinals -1.5 (+145) | Rays +1.5 (-175)Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)Cardinals at Rays picks and predictionsPrediction

Rays 6, Cardinals 4

I like TAMPA BAY (-102). St. Louis (-118) is terrible against pitchers they have never seen before. Gray struggles on the road with a 5.23 ERA (51 2/3 IP, 30 ER), and he also has trouble in the heat. It’s expected to be 88 degrees with the wind blowing out.

We’re getting great value on the ML, so PASS on a run line play.

As mentioned, the forecast calls for wind blowing out to right-center at 8 mph. Steinbrenner Field has also been a hitters’ park this year with an MLB fourth-best 119 HR factor, according to Statcast. In comparison, that’s better than Yankee Stadium at 116.

Give me OVER 8.5 (-105).

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