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The Atlanta Braves (43-33) take on the St. Louis Cardinals (40-37) Tuesday in the 2nd game of a 3-game set at Busch Stadium at 7:45 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Braves vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Cards lead 1-0
The Braves fell 4-3 in the opener Monday night. OF Jarred Kelenic and 2B Ozzie Albies went 0-for-8 atop of the lineup, but Albies just missed a home run that died at the warning track. Atlanta made things interesting in the 9th when Cards closer Ryan Helsley allowed 2 ER on 2 H and 2 BB before shutting the door.
We cashed the +100 Cardinals moneyline Monday night. The Cards beat a really good team with 1B Paul Goldschmidt and 3B Nolan Arenado out of the lineup. OF Alec Burleson and INF/OF Brendan Donovan are carrying the team right now. They combined to go 5-for-7 with 2 RBIs Monday. C Willson Contreras also drove in a run in his first action in nearly 2 months.
Braves at Cardinals projected starters
RHP Reynaldo Lopez vs. RHP Kyle Gibson
Lopez (5-2, 1.57 ERA) makes his 14th start. He has a 1.08 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 9.2 K/9 through 74 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 5 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 7-0 home victory Wednesday against Detroit Tigers
- 1 career relief appearance vs. St. Louis: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
- Home/road splits: 6 road starts: 2-2, 2.14 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 9.9 K/9 vs. 7 home starts: 3-0, 1.11 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 8.6 K/9
Gibson (5-2, 3.44 ERA) makes his 15th start. He has a 1.20 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 through 83 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 7 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K June 14 in 3-0 victory at Chicago Cubs; missed his last start due to back tightness
- Last 5 starts vs. Braves: 2-1, 4.91 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 35 K in 29 1/3 IP
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
Braves at Cardinals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:20 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Braves -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Cardinals +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Braves -1.5 (+125) | Cardinals +1.5 (-150)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Braves at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Braves 5, Cardinals 3
Moneyline
I look for the Braves to rebound here. They had a lot of hard contact right at defenders or that just missed leaving the park Monday. Gibson had a great outing in his last start but missed time to the bereavement list and the back issue. I look for his control to evade him.
You can take the BRAVES -140 here, or you can make it interesting. Lopez hasn’t allowed an ER in his last 2 starts and has allowed more than 2 ER in just 1 of his 13 starts.
Take BRAVES ML + REYNALDO LOPEZ UNDER 2.5 EARNED RUNS (+100).
Run line/Against the spread
I’m pegging this to be a multi-run win for Atlanta, but I personally want more than +125 to incur the risk of it on the road. They’re just 19-20 ATS on the road this year.
Instead, I’m taking BRENDAN DONOVAN OVER 1.5 H+R+RBI (+110). Donovan has an 8-game hitting streak, and he has an RBI in 7 straight. He hit 5th in the order Monday and is clearly on another level right now.
BetMGM Sportsbook is offering an any sport 33% odds boost token that would make that prop bet +146.
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Over/Under
I don’t have as good of a feel on this one as I do the aforementioned wagers. It was 98 degrees and humid as all get out at the ballpark Monday, and the sides only mustered 7 runs with a couple of iffy starters. It’s slated to be 93 degrees with a 7-mph wind blowing out toward left-center. It could go either way, but after Monday’s showing, LEAN UNDER 8.5 (-115).
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