Numerous fantastic opportunities await bettors interested in MLB betting in Tennessee, as the commencement of a three-game series between the St. Louis Cardinals (49-64) and Tampa Bay Rays (68-46) is just around the corner. Can the struggling Cardinals steal a win on the road?

When: Game 1 on August 8, 2023 at 6:40 PM ET

Where: Tropicana Field in St. Pertersburg, Florida

St. Louis Cardinals Preview

The Cardinals are 11.5 games back in the NL Central from the current leading Milwaukee Brewers, so they still have an incredible amount of work to do if they have playoff hopes. They have gone 2-3 over their previous five matchups, which were mixed results against the Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies. Miles Mikolas is their starter on the mound for game one, but is 6-7 this year (ERA 4.29, WHIP 1.29).

With a batting average of .258, their offensive skills are respectable, but there remains room for improvement. While their performance at the plate is enough to win them a handful of games, their opponents maintain an average of .271, potentially contributing to their ongoing challenges this season.

They demonstrate a commendable performance in efficiently getting on base, boasting a .331 on-base percentage. However, as they step into this series, their pitching stumbles with an ERA of 4.52, prompting apprehension regarding their defensive capabilities.

The Cardinals have gone 3-7 over their last 10 games, which were against good teams. They are 24-31 on the road and 33-15 as the underdog with their run line.

Tampa Bay Rays Preview

The Rays are second in the AL East by three games behind the leading Baltimore Orioles. They have gone 3-2 over their last five games against the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees with good offense. Zach Eflin is their starting pitcher for game one and is 12-6 this year (3.46 ERA, 1.00 WHIP).

Their performance at the plate, a .255 batting average, rivals what the Cardinals showcase. On top of that, they are allowing .230 from their opponents, which is tremendous for winning games.

With a commendable .328 on-base percentage, they demonstrate a similar performance to the Cardinals. Their ERA stands at 3.79, which is likely going to be key for this matchup.

The Rays have gone 6-4 over their last 10 games and need every win they can get from this series to close the gap in their division. They are 37-19 at home and 48-47 as the favorite with their run line.

Betting Odds

ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook gives you the best opportunity to bet in Tennessee on this matchup. The following odds show that the Rays are slight favorites to win this matchup.

St. Louis Cardinals: +146

Run Line: +1.5 (-140)

Tampa Bay Rays: -166

Run Line: -1.5 (+120)

Totals: Over 8.5 (+100), Under 8.5 (-120)

The Rays have scored 68 more runs on 23 less hits than the Cardinals. They have also hammered 10 more home runs, indicating this could be a good offensive performance with better efficiency.

Photo Credit: © Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports