<p>The Rangers are rolling while the Cardinals are reeling, heading into the opener of this three-game inter-league series in Arlington Wednesday night. Lefty Martin Perez takes the pill for Texas here against ol' Adam Wainwright for St. Louis.<br />
How are we playing this game with our free StL/Tex pick?</p>
<h2>MLB Betting Odds</h2>
<p>Monday's baseball betting market opened Texas and Perez at around -125 over St. Louis and Wainwright, with an over/under of 9.5 runs. Early betting action then bumped the Rangers to -135 and the total to 10 runs.</p>
<h2>Cardinals-Rangers Betting Preview </h2>
<p>St. Louis just got swept three games at Pittsburgh over the weekend by scores of 7-5, 4-3, and Sunday 2-1. Just before that, the Cardinals split two games with Kansas City, and just before that, they lost two of three at Cleveland. Going back a bit further, St. Louis is 0-2-2 over its last four series and 4-8 over its last 12 games.</p>
<p>At 25-35 overall, the Cardinals, who were supposed to win the NL Central again this season, own the worst record in the National League.</p>
<p>Texas, meanwhile, just swept three games at home from Seattle over the weekend by scores of 2-0, 16-6 and Sunday 12-3. Just before that, the Rangers took two of three games at Detroit, and just before that, they took two of three at Baltimore. Going back a bit further, Texas is 5-0 over its last five series and 12-3 over its last 15 games.</p>
<p>At 38-20 overall, the Rangers trail Tampa Bay by just 2.5 games in the battle for the best record in the American League.</p>
<p>These two teams last met back in 2019.</p>
<h2>Monday's Pitching Match-Up </h2>
<p><a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/40322&quot; title="Martin Perez Pitching Game Logs">Perez</a> is 3/11 on quality starts this season and two for his last three. Last Tuesday, he got touched by the Tigers for six runs and two home runs in less than five innings, although Texas won that game anyway, 10-6. But over his two starts previous to that, he allowed only four runs through 14 innings, with two walks against ten strikeouts.</p>
<p>The Rangers are 8-3 with Perez this season, 5-1 his last six times out.</p>
<p>This will be Perez' first start against St. Louis since 2016.</p>
<p><a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/39441&quot; title="Adam Wainwright Pitching Game Stats">Wainwright</a> is 0/5 on quality starts this year, yet to pitch six full innings in any outing. Last Monday, he gave up three runs and nine hits through five innings of a 7-0 Cardinals loss to the Royals. And just before that, he gave up five runs through 5 2/3 innings, although St. Louis beat the Reds that night 8-5.</p>
<p>The Cardinals are 3-2 with Wainwright this season, although that might be two wins better than they should be, based on his performances.</p>
<p>This will be Wainwright's first start against Texas since 2013.</p>
<h2>Splits With the Sticks</h2>
<p>St. Louis is batting .247 against left-handed pitching this season, with a .331 team OBP and a .416 team slugging percentage.</p>
<p>Texas is slashing .285/.345/.491 against right-handed pitching.</p>
<h2>The Bullpens</h2>
<p>The Rangers bullpen owns a 4.47 ERA this season, along with a 1.27 WHIP and a 2.65 K/BB ratio.</p>
<p>The Cardinals pen owns a 3.97 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP, and a 2.58 K/BB ratio.</p>
<h2>MLB Betting Trends</h2>
<p>St. Louis is 13-19 on the road this season and 7-8 against left-handed starters.</p>
<p>Texas is 19-8 at home and 27-14 against right-handed starters.</p>
<h2>Totals Report</h2>
<ul>
<li>The unders are 30-29 in Cardinals games this season.</li>
<li>The overs are 33-23 in Rangers games.</li>
<li>The overs are 18-7 at Globe Life Field this season.</li>
</ul>