On the Sunday MLB board, it’s the 64-67 Tampa Bay Rays versus the 65-64 St. Louis Cardinals in the 3rd game of a three-game set at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri today. The first pitch of the finale at Busch Stadium is scheduled for 2:15 PM ET.
The visiting Rays are listed as a -120 to -124 moneyline favorites over the host Cardinals. The O/U line for this game is on most boards at 8.5 runs.
In Game 2 of this series yesterday, the Cardinals beat the Rays 6-4. In the game, the Cardinals scored six runs on 10 hits while the Rays managed just four runs on six hits.
This season the Rays rank 23rd in the Majors in runs scored and 8th in team ERA.
The Cardinals rank tied for 16th in the Majors in runs scored and 7th in team ERA.
Pitching Match Up
Tampa Bay: Chris Archer (9-7, 3.76 ERA)
St. Louis: Lance Lynn (10-6, 3.17 ERA)
Chris Archer goes for the Rays in this interleague series finale and in his last outing he was solid only giving up one earned run in six innings in a 6-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Rays had lost his previous two starts where he gave up three earned runs in each one. In Archer’s last two starts he has struck out 10 in each one and given up three HR. This will be his first career start against the Cardinals and in 17 career interleague starts he is 6-7 with an ERA of 2.88. Tampa Bay has won nine of Archer’s last 12 interleague starts and they are 13-6 in his last 19 starts after a Quality Start in his previous outing.
Lance Lynn gets the call for the Cardinals today and in his last start he gave up four earned runs in six innings in a 12-4 loss to the San Diego Padres. The Cardinals have lost his last two starts, but the loss previous to his last outing he only gave up one earned run in six innings, but the bullpen did not do their job. Lynn’s last two starts resulted in a couple of no decisions and he has not taken a loss in his last nine starts. He has two career appearances, including one start, against the Rays and is 0-1 with an ERA of 4.91. St. Louis has won four of Lynn’s last five home starts, but they have lost seven of his last 10 starts against a team with a losing record and have lost five of his last seven interleague starts.
Betting Angles
The Rays are 5-0 in their last 5 games against the Cardinals.
In the last 6 games between these teams in St. Louis the Over record is 4-1-1.
This season the Cardinals are 37-30 at home and the Rays are 30-34 on the road.
Straight Up / Over/Under / Run Line Records
Tampa Bay Rays: 64-67 SU / O/U 66-62 / Run Line W/L 64-67
St. Louis Cardinals: 65-64 SU / O/U 67-54 / Run Line W/L 60-69
Tampa Bay at St. Louis Key Betting Trends
- TB is 4-1 in their last 5 overall
- TB is 2-6 in their last 8 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter
- TB has an Under record of 16-7 in their last 23 games
- STL is 2-4 in their last 6 overall
- STL is 6-13 in their last 19 interleague home games
- STL has an Over record of 15-3-1 in their last 19 games
Key Player Injuries
RAYS
[P] 08/21/2017 – Jacob Faria 10-day DL (08/17) ( Abdominal )
[P] 04/01/2017 – Nathan Eovaldi 60-day DL (03/10) ( Elbow )
[P] 05/18/2017 – Xavier Cedeno 60-day DL (04/18) ( Forearm )
[P] 06/01/2017 – Kevin Gadea 60-day DL (03/26) ( Elbow )
[P] 06/01/2017 – Shawn Tolleson 60-day DL (04/01) ( Elbow )
[3B] 06/01/2017 – Matt Duffy 60-day DL (04/02) ( Achilles )
[LF] 06/09/2017 – Rickie Weeks Jr. 10-day DL (06/09) ( Shoulder )
[LF] 06/23/2017 – Colby Rasmus 10-day DL (06/19) ( Hip )
[P] 06/26/2017 – Diego Moreno 60-day DL (05/22) ( Shoulder )
[P] 06/13/2017 – Matt Andriese 60-day DL (06/11) ( Hip )
CARDINALS
[P] 04/10/2017 – Alex Reyes 60-day DL (03/30) ( Elbow )
[P] 08/18/2017 – Adam Wainwright 10-day DL (08/18) ( Elbow )
[P] 08/23/2017 – Trevor Rosenthal 60-day DL (08/18) ( Elbow )
[P] 08/06/2017 – Kevin Siegrist 10-day DL (08/06) ( Forearm )
