The St. Louis Cardinals (8-9) face off against the Oakland Athletics (7-10) in the second game of their series at the Oakland Coliseum in California at 9:40 PM ET on Tuesday, April 16. ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook offers the Cardinals as moneyline favorites at -155.

When: April 16, 2024 at 9:40 PM ET

Where: Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California

Watch: MLB.TV

St. Louis Cardinals Preview

The Cardinals’ recent performance shows a 2-3 record in their last five games. Their most recent victory, a 3-1 triumph over the A’s, ended a two-game losing streak thanks to two late runs scored in the sixth inning.

Taking the mound for this matchup is Lance Lynn, boasting an impressive 2.63 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. In just 13.2 innings pitched, his stats outshine those of his opponents.

Nolan Arenado leads their offense with a .286 batting average and nine RBIs, though his .301 on-base percentage and .400 slugging percentage leave room for improvement to bolster the team’s offensive prowess.

Their batting average sits at a respectable .231, but will likely need to improve moving forward. Their on base percentage of .299 and slugging percentage of .368 are slightly higher than the A’s and could be the difference here.

Their defensive struggles are evident in allowing opposing teams to bat .253. Closing this gap or reversing it entirely will be crucial for their success this season.

Oakland Athletics Preview

The Athletics have a record of 3-2 in their last five games, with their recent defeat setting them back. Prior to that loss, they secured a 7-6 win against the Washington Nationals. They were able to win two out of three games in that series, giving them solid momentum coming into this series.

JP Sears (1-1) will be on the mound for game two and faces a challenging task ahead. He currently holds an ERA of 5.15 and a WHIP of 1.21, placing him at a disadvantage against a formidable offensive team. He will need excellent play within the first handful of innings to give them a chance.

JJ Bleday leads the team’s offense with a batting average of .262, along with an on-base percentage of .294 and a slugging percentage of .385. Shea Langeliers also contributes with four home runs and eight RBIs. Together, the two of them will need to be aggressive at the plate.

Offensively, they need support as they are only averaging .206 at the plate. This shows they might have issues keeping up with the Cardinals.

They are allowing a .261 batting average in return, causing a huge difference compared to their offense. This unfavorable ratio could lead to further issues.

Betting Odds

ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook offers compelling options for game two of this series. The St. Louis Cardinals are favored and have a 52.9 percent chance of success according to market insights.

Oakland Athletics: +121

Run Line: +1.5 (-136)

St. Louis Cardinals: -155

Run Line: -1.5 (+107)

Total Runs: Over 8.5 (+101), Under 8.5 (-129)

Photo Credit: © Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports