Bettors looking for a great opportunity should check out game two of a three-game series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays. Can the Rays remain dominant at home?

St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview

The Cardinals recently stumbled against the Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies, which sets up bad momentum for this series. They are good enough offensively to make anything happen, so game two will be interesting. Dakota Hudson is expected on the mound for game two and is 2-0 this year.

Their batting average is hovering .258 and shows they do well on offense. Despite being good at the plate, their opponents are closing in on an average near .271. They cannot afford to let the Rays get hot early.

They do a solid job at getting on base, with an average coming close to .331 for an on-base percentage. However, their earned runs average is close to 4.52, indicating they have issues from pitching.

The Cardinals are last in the NL Central by about 12 games. If they want any shot at the playoffs, they have to make serious changes now, especially on defense.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

The Rays have been somewhat human in the second half of the season. Their pitching has been a little shaky lately, which allows teams to stay within reach. Jalen Beeks gets the start on the mound, but is 2-3 this year.

Their stats are solid everywhere you look. They are nearing a .255 batting average, which is close to what the Cardinals offer. On defense though, they are allowing about .230 from their opponents.

They also get on base about the same as the Cardinals, with an average nearly at .328. They have a respectable earned runs average coming in near 3.79, which is huge for this matchup.

The Rays are still second in the AL East behind the Baltimore Orioles within a handful of games. Their grip on the division is slowly passing by with each bad loss. They need to earn easier wins while they can to stay within reach of the division lead.

Game Odds, Series Trends and Free Pick

The following odds from MyBookie reveal that the Tampa Bay Rays are slight favorites to win game two. The market is estimating that the Rays have a 68.6 percent chance to be victorious.

The Rays are excellent at home, while the Cardinals are at their worst on the road. Strong offense will be key, but also experienced pitching. Look for the Rays to come away with the victory.

Final Pick: Take the Tampa Bay Rays to win at -155