Wednesday MLB preview: Cardinals at Brewers, Rays at Astros

Pick: Over

Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty (8-6, 3.32 ERA) will attempt to put a bow on what's been a sensational month of August, but he'll face an opponent that has previously given him fits Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the rollicking Redbirds offense will face a susceptible starter in Milwaukee's Jordan Lyles (8-8, 4.69 ERA).

Flaherty is gunning for National League Pitcher of the Month honors with his 4-0 record and 0.28 ERA, but his 4.79 career ERA against the Brewers does not inspire confidence. Milwaukee outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Ryan Braun are a combined 12-for-29 (.414) all-time against Flaherty, with four home runs.

Lyles will have his hands full with a St. Louis lineup that is seventh in runs plated in August. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt and left fielder Marcell Ozuna are 17-for-37 (.459) combined all-time off the hurler from South Carolina.

Tampa Bay Rays (76-57) at Houston Astros (86-47), 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network

Pick: Astros run line

Astros starter Gerrit Cole (15-5, 2.75 ERA) has been one of the most dominant starters since the start of June, and it's hard to imagine the "Cole Train" being derailed by the Rays at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday night.

Cole is 10-0 in his last 14 starts, with a 1.76 ERA and 5.73 strikeout/walk ratio. The Newport Beach, California native has been particularly challenging for the opposition at home in 2019, where he has posted a .178 opponent batting average over 90 1/3 innings. He'll eventually hand things over to a Houston bullpen that is third in the majors in ERA over the last 30 days (3.31). Tampa's offense is a lackluster 21st in OPS this month (.730).

Ryan Yarbrough (11-3, 3.29 ERA) will get the call for the Rays, sans the occasional "opener" employed by manager Kevin Cash. Yarbrough is having a solid year for Tampa, but he faces an Astros lineup that is tops in baseball by OPS this month (.934). Look for left fielder Michael Brantley and first baseman Yuli Gurriel, who have combined for six home runs and 22 RBIs over their last 15 games, to provide what little run support Cole needs.