The Atlanta Braves (78-48) clash with the St. Louis Cardinals (73-53) Friday in the 1st game of a 3-game set at Busch Stadium. First pitch is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Braves vs. Cardinals odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Atlanta leads 3-1
This is a story about 2 teams ablaze with their sights set on October. Atlanta is 8-2 in the last 10 games and 15-5 in the last 20 and is close to getting 2B Ozzie Albies back from injury. The Braves are averaging 6.5 runs per game in the last 10, but that number is skewed by a 13 and 14 spot. They have 1 of their horses on the mound Friday.
The Cards are averaging 6.8 runs per game in the last 10, but that, too, is skewed by 13, 16 and 13 spots. St. Louis has had a soft spot in its schedule with the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs. This will be a real test for them as we creep into September. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt is starting to run away with the MVP trophy, hitting .383 with 9 homers and 27 RBIs this month. He’ll have to do it without sidekick 3B Nolan Arenado, who was placed on the paternity list Friday afternoon.
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Braves at Cardinals projected starters
RHP Spencer Strider vs. LHP Jose Quintana
Strider (7-4, 2.95 ERA) makes his 16th start. He has a 1.02 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 13.5 K/9 in 100 2/3 IP.
- Owned St. Louis with 12 K’s in 6 shutout innings July 7
- A little less lethal on the road with a 3.48 ERA and 12.9 K.9 vs. 2.54 ERA and 14.0 K/9 at home
Quintana (4-5, 3.45 ERA) makes his 25th start. He has a 1.30 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 7.7 K/9 in 122 2/3 IP.
- Struggled in Arizona last time out with 2 ER, 7 H, 3 BB and 0 K’s in 2 2/3 IP
- Is 1-0 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 7.3 K/9 in 4 starts with Cardinals
Braves at Cardinals odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:52 p.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Braves -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Cardinals +133 (bet $100 to win $133)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Braves -1.5 (+105) | Cardinals +1.5 (-130)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: +112 | U: -140)
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Braves at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Braves 5, Cardinals 3
Money line
Atlanta is a fairly heavy favorite, and a lot of that is because of what Strider did to the Cards in his first start. However, he hasn’t been as dominant over his last 7 starts with a couple of clunkers mixed in. With Arenado out, the Cards’ offense is still pretty solid, but that’s a big piece missing when facing a stud like Strider. I’ll take the BRAVES FIRST 5 INNINGS (-108).
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Run line/Against the spread
The Braves are 36-24 on the road, and while the Cards are great at home, the Braves took it to them in Atlanta. The Braves’ 3 wins were by a combined score of 16-4, and the Cards won the finale, 3-2, in 11 innings. LEAN BRAVES -1.5 (+105).
Over/Under
This number is heavily weighted on Strider’s dominance, which hasn’t been there of late with his 3.60 ERA in the last 7 starts. Two of the 4 previous meetings went over 8 runs, and both teams are clicking this time around. Even with Arenado out, I’m still going to LEAN OVER 7.5 (+112).
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