The Texas Rangers haven’t made the playoffs since 2016, but they are playing like arguably the best team in the American League right now and start ace Jon Gray – ace because Jacob deGrom is hurt again – in Wednesday’s home interleague series finale vs. St. Louis.

Nitrobetting checks out the game in this preview. Get a complete look at the game information, team and player statistics, and the latest MLB betting odds. We also deliver timely betting trends and predictions that help you secure the best picks.

Cardinals vs. Rangers Game Information

6 straight series wins. #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/ZqPH863rcs

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) June 7, 2023

• When: Wednesday, June 7, 2023, 8:05 PM ET
• Where: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
• TV: BSMW, BSSW
• Radio: KMOX 1120 AM (Cardinals) // 105.3 The Fan (Rangers)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Cardinals (+125) // Rangers (-145)

READ MORE: Mets vs. Braves MLB Odds, Preview and Prediction – June 8, 2023

Why bet on the St. Louis Cardinals?

Cards outfielder Dylan Carlson (ankle) began a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday with Triple-A Memphis. He should return to the Cardinals’ lineup sometime later this week after a couple rehab contests. The 24-year-old has been on the shelf since mid-May due to a left ankle sprain. Fellow outfielders Tyler O’Neill and Lars Nootbaar also are on the IL. O’Neill is scheduled not to resume baseball activity until June 15. Nootbaar just landed on it this week.

The Cardinals currently rank 7th in MLB with a .267 BA w/runners in scoring position. The Rangers lead all of MLB with a .337 BA wRISP, currently outdistancing the all-time single-season mark held by the 2013 Cardinals (.330). Texas also leads the majors in home scoring and has the second-best home record in the AL.

It’s Jack Flaherty (3-4, 4.55) on the mound for the Cards in this one. Flaherty didn’t factor into the decision in Friday’s 7-5 loss to the Pirates, allowing one run on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out six. Flaherty gave up one run or less for the third time in his last four starts, exiting the game in line for his fourth win after 101 pitches (61 strikes), but the Cardinals’ bullpen fell apart. Over his last five outings, Flaherty has a 2.48 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 28:13 K:BB through 29 innings.

Flaherty has faced the Rangers once in his career, and it was in May 2019 at Globe Life Field, taking a ND in the Cardinals’ 5-4 loss in 10 innings. Texas answered the Redbirds one run in the top of the 10th with a pair of runs in the bottom half to walk-off with the win.

Why bet on the Texas Rangers?

It appears the Texas Rangers were wise to hire three-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy as their new manager after another losing season in 2022 even though the 67-year-old Bochy hasn’t managed since 2019, when he stepped away after 13 seasons with the Giants. Rangers general manager Chris Young was a pitcher for San Diego in 2006, which was Bochy’s final season with the Padres before going to San Francisco.

Bochy is clearly the AL Manager of the Year favorite right now, with Texas holding the second-best record in the American League and atop the AL West – although Houston probably ends up winning the division again. The Rangers should at worst be a wild card team, and they can make some noise if Jacob deGrom is healthy, but he barely has been since signing with the team over the winter.

On Tuesday, deGrom was moved from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day list while dealing with elbow inflammation that has sidelined him since April 29. That means deGrom can’t return before June 28. He hasn’t gone over 100 innings in a season since 2019 and the most number of starts he’s had in a season since then has been 15 in 2021.

When he has pitched, though, he’s been the deGrom that everybody expected him to be. In 30 1/3 innings this season, the ace has a 2.67 ERA and 45 strikeouts. The Rangers are undefeated in his six starts.

“I believe he’s the best pitcher in the world when he’s healthy,” Young said. “When he’s on the mound, it’s just captivating. But we want to proceed cautiously and do what’s right by him. That’s the biggest factor in this move. We want to make sure the inflammation is gone. The [symptoms] have come and gone. He’s had good days and bad. It’s not been linear.”

Since deGrom landed on the IL, the Rangers’ rotation has a 2.84 ERA since April 29. That’s first in the Majors over that period. It’s right-hander Jon Gray (6-1, 2.51) on Wednesday. Gray allowed two hits and a walk over seven shutout innings Friday, striking out five and earning a win over Seattle. Gray allowed just one Mariner into scoring position and retiring the final 10 batters he faced. He’s won five consecutive starts while allowing one run or fewer in each, with his ERA dropping from 4.40 to 2.51 during that stretch.

Cardinals vs. Rangers Betting Trends

• Cardinals are 1-4 in their last 5 Wednesday games.
• Cardinals are 1-10 in their last 11 vs. American League West.
• The total went under in 9 of St. Louis’ last 11 games.
• Rangers are 6-1 in their last 7 interleague games.
• Rangers are 14-5 in their last 19 during game 3 of a series.
• The total went under in 8 of Texas’ last 10 games against St. Louis.

Cardinals vs. Rangers Betting Prediction

Rangers 4, Cardinals 3.

Where to Bet on the 2023 MLB season with Crypto

Nitrobetting offers a solid channel for those who want to bet on the 2023 MLB Season with bitcoin. The power of crypto and its lightning-fast transactions make the entire MLB Season betting more enjoyable.

Stay tuned for more 2023 MLB season previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest baseball betting odds on our online BTC sportsbook.