“Yandy Diaz’s bat and Drew Rasmussen’s arm lead the Rays to an Opening Day win over the Cardinals,” said analyst Naessens ahead of the game.
The Tampa Bay Rays will start their season against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday at 4:15 p.m. ET, with Drew Rasmussen taking the mound for the Rays and Matthew Liberatore starting for the Cardinals.
Rasmussen is coming off a strong season in which he consistently limited damage, posting a sub-3.00 ERA. His performance will be crucial as the Rays look to capitalize on their successful 2025 season, where they set a franchise record and MLB best with 194 stolen bases.
Injuries have impacted both teams, with the Rays missing Taylor Walls and Gavin Lux, both on the 10 Day IL due to oblique and shoulder injuries, respectively. Additionally, Edwin Uceta and Ryan Pepiot are on the 15 Day IL, while Manuel Rodriguez and Steven Wilson are on the 60 Day IL for the Rays.
The Cardinals are also dealing with injuries, as Hunter Dobbins is on the 15 Day IL due to a knee injury, and Lars Nootbaar is on the 60 Day IL with heel injuries.
The Rays enter the game with a moneyline of -122, while the Cardinals have struggled recently, hitting the moneyline in only 46 of their last 106 games, resulting in a -18.80 Units and -15% ROI.
Yandy Diaz, who had a .300 batting average and an .848 OPS in 2025, will be a key player to watch as he aims to make an impact on Opening Day.
As the teams prepare for the matchup, fans are eager to see how the Rays’ speed on the bases will challenge the Cardinals’ defense.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any last-minute changes to the lineup as the game approaches.
