The Atlanta Braves are ready to play the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Fox Sports Midwest will be televising this NL matchup and the game gets going at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Atlanta Braves at St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Oddsmakers are listing St. Louis (-110) as the favorite over Atlanta (+100). The total sits at 9 runs and bettors can take the over for even money (+100) and the under for -120. The games runline odds sit at -210 for betting the Braves +1.5 runs and +175 for the Cardinals -1.5.
The Cardinals are 42-39 straight up (SU) and 39-41 against the spread (ATS). The teams lost 6.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.0 units (ATS). St. Louis has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Braves are 47-34 SU and have gone 43-36 ATS. Overall, the teams gained 15.1 units for moneyline gamblers and 6.7 units ATS. Atlanta has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
St. Louis games have a 32-44-4 over/under record so far in 2018. Atlanta has an over/under record of 38-37-4.
Mike Foltynewicz is getting the nod for Atlanta. The right-handed Foltynewicz (5-4, 2.14 ERA) has racked up 98 strikeouts in 83 innings so far. He has yet to face St. Louis this year, but he did make two starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 0-2 record with a 17.55 ERA and five strikeouts.
The Cardinals are putting the ball in the right hand of John Gant (2-2, 3.48 ERA, 1.13 WHIP), who has 32 strikeouts and 14 walks this season. Gant did not record a start against the Braves in 2017.
Atlanta’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 8.66 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.18, along with a WHIP of 1.24.
The Braves offense has slashed .262/.332/.426 on its way to 5.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 6.3 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 5.8 per game over the teams last five outings (3-2 SU).
Outfielder Nick Markakis and first baseman Freddie Freeman continue to lead Atlanta’s offense. Markakis is hitting .326/.391/.492 with nine home runs, 56 RBIs and 49 runs scored, while Freeman has a .316 average with 15 homers, 54 RBIs and 52 runs scored.
For the home team, St. Louis pitchers have allowed 4.2 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have a 3.46 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.13 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 8.7 K/9.
St. Louis offense has produced 4.3 runs per outing, including 3.9 per game over its last 10 games and 4.2 per game over its last five. The team has hit .259/.317/.404 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Cardinals batters have been led by left fielder Marcell Ozuna and first baseman Jose Martinez. Ozuna is slashing .285/.330/.419 with 10 home runs, 44 RBIs and 32 runs scored, and Martinez’s line is .300/.368/.500 with 13 homers, 52 RBIs and 35 runs scored.
The Braves have gained 11.3 units and are 31-23 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 23 of those games, compared to 27 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Cardinals have lost 1.9 units and are 30-31 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in 23 of those games, as opposed to 34 which went under the total.
Atlanta Braves at St. Louis Cardinals Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Braves, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Both teams have logged 14 extra-base hits over their last five contests.
- Atlanta has posted 28.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 26.6 over its last five.
- The Braves have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The Cardinals have hit 11 over their last 10.
