St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves Betting Preview

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The Atlanta Braves are set to host the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 2 of the NLDS. The visiting Cardinals currently maintain a 1-0 lead in the series, and this matchup will be televised on TBS. The game gets underway 4:37 p.m. ET.

St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves Odds

Taking into account the regular season, the Braves are 97-66 straight up (SU) and 80-82 against the spread (ATS). The team’s gained 17.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 2.6 units ATS. The Cardinals have gone 92-71 SU this year and are 85-77 ATS. In total, the team’s gained 4.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.5 units ATS.

Braves games have an over/under record of 78-76-8 in 2019. St. Louis has been a great under bet with a total record of 67-83-12.

Jack Flaherty will get the nod for the visiting Cardinals. The right-handed Flaherty (11-8, 2.75 ERA) has recorded 231 strikeouts in 196.1 innings so far. He’s 1-0 with 13 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA against Atlanta this year (two starts).

The Braves are turning to Mike Foltynewicz (8-6, 4.54 ERA). Foltynewicz has 105 strikeouts and 37 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.25. Foltynewicz is 1-1 with 11 strikeouts and a 6.75 ERA across two starts against St. Louis this year.

Atlanta’s pitching staff has allowed 4.6 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has a 4.18 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.28 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 9.3 K/9.

The Atlanta hitters have put up 5.3 runs per contest, including 5.0 per game over its last 10 games and 4.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .257/.346/.410 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.

The Braves’ hitters have been led by second baseman Ozzie Albies and first baseman Freddie Freeman. Albies is slashing .293/.351/.497 with 24 home runs, 86 RBIs, 103 runs and 15 stolen bases, and Freeman’s line sits at .296/.390/.554 with 39 homers, 122 RBIs and 114 runs.

In the visiting dugout, St. Louis’ pitchers have allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.77 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 8.05 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.92, along with a K-per-9 of 9.73.

Cardinals hitters have slashed .246/.325/.416 on their way to 4.7 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).

St. Louis’ offense has been fueled by first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and second baseman Kolten Wong. Goldschmidt is slashing .261/.347/.483 with 35 home runs, 98 RBIs and 99 runs scored. Wong is slashing .286/.363/.425 with 11 homers, 61 RBIs, 61 runs and 24 stolen bases.

The Cardinals are looking for another win following a 7-6 victory in the prior game of the series.

Cardinals vs. Braves Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Braves, ATS Winner – Cardinals, O/U – OVER

Betting Trends

  • The over has hit in four of Atlanta’s last seven games.
  • The Cardinals have a team OPS of .742 this season and an OPS of .740 against right-handed pitchers. The Braves’ OPS sits at .791 overall and .794 versus righties.
  • The Braves have lost six of their last seven games SU.
  • St. Louis has posted 24.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 25.4 over its last five.
  • The Cardinals have hit 18 home runs in their last 10 games. The Braves have hit 14 over their last 10.