Published May 31, 9:01pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated May 31, 9:01pm ET
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Updated May 31, 9:01pm ET
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| St. Louis Cardinals | +105 |
| Texas Rangers | -116 |
The Rangers are still in contention despite being below .500 because of the weakness of the AL West. However, the Mariners are getting healthy, so it would behoove Texas to start winning some games.
They send Jacob deGrom to the hill in the first game of their series in St. Louis. The righty is no longer the dominating force who laid waste to MLB with the Mets when he was healthy. However, he can be excellent when he's on his game.
In May, however, he struggled. For the month, he had a 5.72 ERA, allowed 25 hits in 28.1 innings, walked 5, and struck out 30. He allowed 9 homers. Because he had a very good April, his overall numbers are good. He has a 3.77 ERA in 11 starts. Over 59.2 innings, he allowed 48 hits and 25 earned runs, walking 12 and striking out 70. He is leading the AL in homers allowed.
At the plate, Jake Burger has 10 homers and a .734 OPS. Joc Pederson is having a solid comeback after a historically woeful season in 2025 with a .794 OPS and 8 homers. Josh Jung has an .867 OPS. Brandon Nimmo has a .750 OPS with 7 homers. Ezequiel Duran has an .801 OPS.
For the Rangers, only Jung and Nimmo have faced Michael McGreevy. Both are 0 for 3.
Michael McGreevy's numbers are solid despite having consecutive poor starts. In his past two appearances, he's allowed 17 hits and 8 earned runs in 9 innings. Overall, however, he has a 1.4 bWAR and a 2.98 ERA. In 60.1 innings, he's allowed 51 hits and 20 earned runs, walking 15 and striking out 43.
The righty was a Cardinals' 1st round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft and is still finding his way in his first full season in the majors. But he's very promising.
At the plate, Jordan Walker continues his breakout season with an OPS above .910 and 26 extra base hits, including 15 homers. JJ Wetherhold has a .766 OPS and 9 homers. Alec Burleson is at .789 with 7 homers. Ivan Herrera is at .820 with 7 homers.
Other key bats, including Masyn Winn, are struggling. He is at .632 with no power. Nolan Gorman is at .626 with 6 homers.
Against deGrom, Winn is 1 for 3 with a single. Herrera is 1 for 2 with a single. The only other Cardinals' hitters who have faced deGrom are Burleson, Pedro Pages, and Victor Scott II. They are a combined 0 for 5.
If deGrom were clearly on his game, this would be an easy on-paper pick to say the Rangers have the advantage. However, he has been shaky lately. At his age (38 on June 19) with his injury history, there are inevitable questions as to when his decline will begin in earnest.
McGreevy hasn't been great lately either.
The Rangers are hitting relatively well lately after a slow start. The Cardinals have been up and down offensively. For this matchup, Texas will take the win behind deGrom.
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Pick
Texas Rangers -1.5 (+140)
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