St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves odds, picks and predictions

The St. Louis Cardinals (50-46) take on the Atlanta Braves (53-42) Friday in the opener of a 3-game set at Truist Park at 7:20 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cardinals vs. Braves odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Cardinals lead 2-1

The Cards went 2-4 in their final 6 games before the All-Star break as they were clearly running on fumes. They went 18-12 in 1-run games before the break, and their pen was taxed. OF Alec Burleson has emerged, as he has raked with a .340 BA, 5 homers and 15 RBIs in 53 July at-bats thus far.

The Braves went 3-3 in the final 6 games before the break. DH Marcell Ozuna continues to power the Bravos with a .359 clip, 5 homers and 10 RBIs the last 10 games. The Cards took 2 of 3 against Atlanta in St. Louis, but the Braves are great at home at 29-17.

Cardinals at Braves projected starters

RHP Sonny Gray vs. RHP Spencer Schwellenbach

Gray (9-6, 3.34 ERA) makes his 18th start. He has a 1.05 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9 and 10.9 K/9 through 99 2/3 innings.

• Last start: Loss, 7 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 0 BB, 6 K in 5-1 home defeat July 12 against Chicago Cubs
• Last 5 starts vs. Braves: 0-2, 2.81 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 33 K in 32 IP

Schwellenbach (3-4, 4.43 ERA) makes his 9th start. He has a 1.16 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 through 44 2/3 innings.

• Last start: Win, 7 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 6-1 victory July 12 at San Diego Padres
• Allowed 2 ER in 13 IP (1.38 ERA) in his last 2 starts
• June 24 at St. Louis: Loss, 5 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 6 K in 4-3 setback

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Cardinals at Braves odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:58 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Cardinals +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Braves -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cardinals +1.5 (-190) | Braves -1.5 (+155)
• Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

Cardinals at Braves picks and predictions

Prediction

Braves 5, Cardinals 3

This game could have issues because there is a 73% chance of rain at gametime, and it lingers throughout the evening. Keep that in mind when wagering.

That said, I like the Braves here. Gray has given up 23 hits in 16 1/3 IP over his last 3 starts, and he has allowed 11 ER in the process. Schwellenbach got touched up in his previous start in St. Louis, but the Braves are very tough at home.

Take the BRAVES -135.

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I like ALEC BURLESON OVER 1.5 H+R+RBI (-135). He went 2-for-2 with an RBI double against Schwellenbach in his June start against St. Louis.

As mentioned, it could be a wet evening with a light 2-mph breeze blowing in. With the way Gray has been hit of late, and the Cards’ success against Schwellenbach, I’m taking the OVER 7.5 (-105). The Cards are 8-2 O/U in their last 10, and the Braves are 4-5-1

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