MLB Predictions: Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals

The Atlanta Braves (22-17) and St. Louis Cardinals (21-20) will open up a National League series Friday night at Busch Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET

Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals OF Matt Holliday has reached base safely in all 15 home games this season

Atlanta has alternated wins and losses over its last four games, as it looks to bounce back from a 10-4 setback to the San Francisco Giants as +121 road underdogs Wednesday, while going OVER the betting total for the first time in seven contests. The Braves have averaged four runs per game since Sunday after plating just 1.9 runs per game in the previous 11 affairs. Current roster members are batting .240 against tonight’s opposing starting pitcher. Atlanta is 3-4 on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 this season, with the UNDER going 5-2 in that situation.

Braves starting pitcher Ervin Santana (4-0, 1.99 ERA) earned a 2-0 home victory over the Chicago Cubs in his last effort, as the surrendered just five hits over seven shutout innings. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.37 ERA in three road appearances, with opposing hitters batting .221 against him. In two career starts versus the Cardinals, Santana has tallied a 1-1 record and 4.73 ERA.

St. Louis has won back-to-back games, while the OVER is 6-3-1 in its last 10 contests. The Cardinals will likely be led by outfielder Matt Holliday offensively in the series opener, considering he’s reached base safely in all 15 home games the franchise has played to this point in 2014. It’s important to point out that the club has won 10 of its last 14 home meetings in this series. St. Louis is 7-2 as home underdogs of +100 to +125 the last two-plus seasons.

Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn (4-2, 3.83 ERA) has watched the squad drop three of his last four trips to the mound, including a 4-3 setback on the road to the Pittsburgh Pirates last time out. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 6.55 ERA in two home appearances, with opposing hitters batting .295 against him. Lynn has tallied a 1-2 record and 4.05 ERA in three career starts versus the Braves.