Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals Odds, Picks and Predictions

THE Atlanta Braves (43-32) faces the St. Louis Cardinals (39-37) Monday in the first game of a 3-game set at Busch Stadium at 7:45 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze the BetMGM Sportsbook lines around the Braves vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting; The Braves won 4-2 last year

The Braves were 2 of 3 against the New York Yankees this weekend with a 3-1 win on Sunday. They have won 5 of 6 and 8 of 10 as they look to hit their stride despite the serious injuries they have suffered. Braves 3B Austin Riley‘s bat is coming to life with a .326 BA, 4 HR and 9 RBI over the last 15 days.

The Cards completed a 3-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants on Sunday with a 5-3 victory. RHP Sonny Gray had a perfect game in the 7th inning before the Giants got on the board. OF Brendan Donovan (.362 BA, 4 HR, 11 RBI) and Alex Burleson (.333 BA, 3 HR, 8 RBI) have powered the offense over the past 15 days.

Cardinals C Willson Contreras (forearm) will be activated from the IL Monday against Atlanta, if he passes a medical evaluation.

Braves among Cardinals projected starters

RHP Spencer Schwellenbach against RHP Lance Lynn

Schwellenbach (1-2, 4.99 ERA) is making his 5th start. He has a 1.20 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 in 21 2/3 innings.

• Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K in Tuesday’s 2-1 home win against the Detroit Tigers
• Never faced the Cardinals before
• Home/Road Splits: 2 Road Starts: 0-1, 6.75 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 5.9 K/9 vs. 2 Home Starts: 1-1, 3.27 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 9.8K/9

Lynn (2-3, 4.08 ERA) is making his 16th start. He has a WHIP of 1.43, 3.6 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 in 75 innings.

• Last start: No decision, 5 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 10 H, 0 BB, 5 K in a 9-8, 10-inning loss Tuesday at the Miami Marlins
• Last 5 starts vs. Braves: 3-2, 4.55 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 18 K in 27 2/3 IP

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Braves alongside the Cardinals

Powered by BetMGM Sportsbook; Go to the USA TODAY Sports Sports Betting Scores & Odds hub for a complete list. Lines last updated at 12:56 p.m. ET.

• Money Line (ML): Braves -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Cardinals +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
• Running Line (RL)/Against the Spread (ATS): Braves -1.5 (+135) | Cardinals +1.5 (-165)
• More/Less (Y/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Braves picks and predictions at Cardinals

Prediction

Cardinals 6, Braves 5

Money line

The Cards are averaging 6.3 R/game over their last 6 games, and they will need all of that to survive the Braves. I think this is the only game in the series where the Cards have a legitimate chance to win with RHP. Reynaldo Lopez and LHP Chris Sale start the next 2.

Lynn doesn’t go deep and he’s seen at least 4 runs on the board, earned or not, in 6 of his last 7 starts. THE CARDINALS +100 find a way to crush just enough.

Running Line/Against the Spread

Take your pick here, but I like LANCE LYNN UNDER 16.5 OUTS (-110) And LANCE LYNN UNDER 5.5 BROKEN (-155).

Lynn hasn’t recorded 17 outs in 4 straight starts and hasn’t done so in 2 straight games against Atlanta. He also has 6+ K once in his last 7 GS.

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More less

It is expected to be 93 degrees with an 8 mph wind blowing from left to right. The Braves are 5-4-1 O/U in their last 10 games and the Cards are 5-5. The Over have conceded 7 of the last 10 meetings against each other.

With the heat, the pitching game and the Cards offense doing all it can, we’re going to MORE THAN 8.5 (-115).

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