The Atlanta Braves (4-1) and St. Louis Cardinals (2-3) meet Wednesday to wrap up a 3-game series. First pitch from Busch Stadium is set for 1:15 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: Braves lead 2-0. Atlanta won the 2022 season series 4-3.
The Braves won 4-1 Tuesday as +122 underdogs a night after prevailing 8-4 as -113 favorites in Monday’s opener. 3B Austin Riley hit a 2-run HR in the 1st, RF Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a solo shot in the 2nd and C Seth Murphy added an RBI single in the 3rd as Atlanta jumped out to a 4-0 lead Tuesday. SP Dylan Dodd (W, 5 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 3 K) and 5 Atlanta relievers scattered 10 hits in allowing St. Louis just 1 run.
So far, St. Louis pitching has struggled. The Cardinals pitching staff owns a 5.40 ERA (45 IP, 27 ER) through the first 5 games. They’ve allowed 9 runs twice and have yielded 4 or more runs in all but 1 game — a 4-1 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday. Offensively, 3B Brendan Donovan (.300, 5 HR, 5 RBI) and DH Nolan Gorman (.500, 2 HR, 6 RBI) have supplied a little pop.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
Braves at Cardinals projected starters
RHP Bryce Elder vs. RHP Miles Mikolas
Elder will make his 1st start of 2023. He went 2-4 with a 3.17 ERA in his rookie season last year with a 1.24 WHIP, 7.8 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 through 54 IP.
- Posted a 1-3 record with a 3.66 ERA (32 IP, 13 ER) and 1.25 WHIP across in 5 starts with 1 relief appearance in away games last year
- Went 1-3 with a 4.74 ERA (19 IP, 10 ER) in his 4 March/April starts a year ago
- Career vs. Cardinals: Wednesday will be his 1st outing vs. St. Louis
Mikolas (0-0, 13.50) makes his 2nd start of 2023. He was roughed up for 5 ER on 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings in his 1st outing, a no-decision that the Cards lost 10-9 to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays Opening Day. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out 6.
- Last season at home: 6-3, 2.38 ERA (94 2/3 IP, 25 ER), 69 K across 14 starts
- Career vs. Braves: 1-3, 3.04 ERA (26 2/3 IP, 9 ER), 1.09 WHIP, 6.8 K/9.
- Last season vs. Braves (1 start): L, 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K in 3-0 road loss July 6
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 2:49 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Braves +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Cardinals -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Braves +1.5 (-190) | Cardinals -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW23 for $15 OFF a Draft Prep or full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 4/30/2023. Subscribe today and start winning!
Braves at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Braves 6, Cardinals 4
Moneyline
LEAN BRAVES (+105).
The Braves are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings with the Cardinals. In the last 16 head-to-head matchups, Atlanta is 12-4. including a 7-game win streak from June 20, 2021 – July 6, 2022.
While I don’t put much weight into these trends, I feel the need to point out that Atlanta is 1-4 in its last 5 Wednesday games.
Run line/Against the spread
BET BRAVES +1.5 (-190).
Recent history says the Braves should win, and by a decent margin, but the 2022 season series was only a 4-3 advantage for the Braves. It’s hard for me to see a team as good as St. Louis get swept in this series. However, only 2 of the last 10 Atlanta-St. Louis matchups came within 1 run and St. Louis won both. If this is game comes down to 1 run, expect St. Louis to win.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Over/Under
LEAN OVER 9 (-115).
The Over is 6-1 in the last 7 head-to-head meetings in St. Louis and 4-1 in the last 5 meetings overall. Despite the recent Over streak, the O/U has been extremely balanced in recent games between these teams, going 5-5 in the last 10 games.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow @payton_shanks on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]