MLB Lines – Braves vs Cardinals
The Atlanta Braves arrive in St. Louis looking to maintain their slim lead atop the NL East when they open a three-game set against the struggling Cardinals.
ATL: Ervin Santana (R) (4-0, 1.99 ERA) v STL: Lance Lynn (R) (4-2, 3.83 ERA)
Date/Time: 8:15 pm ET Friday, May 16, 2014
Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
Broadcast: Fox Sports South (Atlantic), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
Line: -110 Cardinals
Total: 7
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Atlanta (22-17) hold a game and a half advantage over the National in the division, and are coming off a 10-4 loss at the San Francisco Wednesday.
The Giants outlasted the Braves to take two of three in the series and pelted Atlanta starter Julio Teheran for five runs (four earned), seven hits and five walks in only 3 1/3 frames.
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s MLB Baseball Picks packages online Today!
Braves centerfielder B.J. Upton was thrown out of the game by home plate umpire Lance Barrett in the sixth inning for arguing balls and strikes.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals (21-20) took 2-of-3 at home against the visiting Chicago Cubs, including a 5-3 win on Thursday afternoon.
[dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Michael Wacha pitched seven strong innings and also had a two-run single while Matt Carpenter and Yadier Molina delivered run-scoring hits for the Cardinals. Molina is 7-for-16 over the last four games and Wacha allowed just two runs and seven hits and struck out five before exiting.
The win inched the Cardinals to within five games of the first place Milwaukee Brewer in the NL Central.
The Braves will hand the ball to right hander Ervin Santana in game one. The 31-year-old who was signed by the by the Anaheim Angels as an amateur free agent back in 2000, has stormed out to a 4-0 record in 2014.
Santana’s last outing resulted in a 2-0 win over the Cubs, who he held scoreless through seven innings, allowing just seven hits and striking out seven. He is 1-1 in two career starts against the Cardinals with a 4.73 ERA.
St. Louis will counter with Lance Lynn. The 27-year-old has one half of his eight starts, and is coming off 4-2 loss at the Pirates on May 10, when he gave up nine hits and walked three, including one hit batter in six innings of work. He is 1-2 in three starts against the Braves with a lifetime ERA of 4.05.
Notes:
1. St. Louis C Yadier Molina is 7-for-16 over his last four contests to raise his average to .315.
2. Braves OF B.J. Upton is 3-for-17 with 13 strikeouts over the last six games.
3. Cardinals SS Jhonny Peralta is 3-for-25 against Santana.
Gambling Trends
- ATL are 8-1 in their last 9 Fri. games.
- Under is 11-4 in ATL last 15 Fri. games.
- Under is 18-7-1 in ATL last 26 overall.
- STL are 36-15 in their last 51 home games.
- Under is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
- ATL are 4-10 in the last 14 meetings in St. Louis.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Braves –
Both teams have been a bit inconsistent, so I am basing my prediction solely on Santana’s recent pitching performances here.
