The St. Louis Cardinals (64-66) and the Tampa Bay Rays (62-67) wrap up a 3-game interleague series Sunday at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. First pitch is scheduled for 12:10 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: Tied 1-1

This series wraps up Sunday after Saturday’s game was moved to Thursday. With the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing a preseason game Saturday night, due to traffic concerns, the baseball game was moved.

After a 7-4 victory Thursday night as a slight favorite (-115), the Cardinals lost 10-6 Friday. The Over cashed in each of those games, too.

On Friday, Cardinals 1B Willson Contreras ended up 2-for-5 with a 2-run homer and 2 runs scored, while CF Nathan Church finished 2-for-4 with a 2-run HR working out of the No. 9 spot.

For the Rays, CF Jake Mangum ended 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles with a run scored and 2 RBIs. RF Josh Lowe posted a 3-for-4 night with a double and a pair of runs scored, while SS Carson Williams was 2-for-4 with a 2-run HR, 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs. The 9-hole was also productive for Tampa Bay, as 2B Tristan Gray was 2-for-3 with a 2-run HR and a walk.

St. Louis has won 3 of the past 5 games, all on the road, and the Cardinals are 6-4 across the past 10 road contests. The Over is 6-0-1 in the past 7 games, and 7-2-1 across the past 10 on the road.

The Over is on fire for Tampa Bay, too, going 5-0 in the past 5 outings, 7-1 across the past 8 games, and 10-2 across the previous 12 contests.

Cardinals at Rays projected starters

LHP Matthew Liberatore vs. RHP Ryan Pepiot

Liberatore (6-10, 4.13 ERA) makes his 24th start. He has a 1.29 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 6.9 K/9 through 122 innings.

Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H (1 HR), 1 BB, 5 K in 8-3 road victory vs. Miami Marlins last MondayLast 7 games: 0-4, 5.46 ERA (29 2/3 IP, 18 ER), 12 BB, 17 K, 1.69 WHIP in 7 starts2025 road stats: 2-5, 3.73 ERA (62 2/3 IP, 26 ER), 6 HR, 18 BB, 49 K, 1.29 WHIP in 12 starts2025 day stats: 2-3, 2.77 ERA (48 2/3 IP, 15 ER), 5 HR, 15 BB, 38 K, 1.23 WHIP in 9 startsCareer vs. Rays (1 start): Win, 8 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 7 K in 5-2 road win Aug. 10, 2023

Pepiot (8-10, 3.95 ERA) makes his 27th start. He has a 1.19 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 8.9 K/9 through 148 innings.

Last start: Loss, 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 BB, 8 K in 7-1 road loss vs. San Francisco Giants last SundayLast 7 games: 2-4, 5.67 ERA (39 2/3 IP, 25 ER), 15 BB, 39 K, 1.31 WHIP in 7 starts2025 home stats: 5-4, 3.46 ERA (78 IP, 30 ER), 17 HR, 24 BB, 84 K, 1.14 WHIP in 13 startsHas never faced Cardinals

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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 5:59 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Cardinals +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Rays -130 (bet $130 to win $100)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cardinals +1.5 (-200) | Rays -1.5 (+165)Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: +100 | U: -120)Cardinals at Rays picks and predictionsPrediction

Cardinals 5, Rays 4

The CARDINALS (+110) are worth a look as short ‘dogs at plus-money in this interleague series finale.

Tampa Bay is just 15-20 against left-handed starting pitching, although it is a solid 23-18 in interleague games. Still, Liberatore has been better on the road, and he has pitched well under the sun.

The Cardinals +1.5 (-200) will cost you 2 times your potential return, if you need a little bit of insurance and you cannot fathom the idea of picking St. Louis straight up for some reason.

Tampa Bay is just 1-4 in the past 5 games, while going 0-4 in the past 4 games on the run line as an underdog.

PASS.

AVOID, as I fully expect the total to come right down on the number.

However, if you absolutely, positively need action on this game, going UNDER 5.5 (-160) – FIRST 5 INNINGS is worth a roll of the dice. Both of these starters have some impressive splits, and we could get a lower-scoring game before the offense picks it up in the middle to late frames.

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