Braves vs. Cardinals Preview and Pick

The surging Atlanta Braves go for the sweep of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday night at the new Busch Stadium.

Atlanta has won seven games in a row, including the first two games of this series by scores of 15-3 and 14-5. In doing so, the Braves became the first team since the 1930 New York Yankees to score 10 or more runs in five consecutive games.

Overall, Atlanta has scored 104 runs in just its’ last 10 games!

The Braves were 13 games under .500 earlier this month. But their recent surge has pulled them into second place in the NL East, although they still trail the first-place New York Mets by 11 ½ games.

Atlanta also trails the Cincinnati Reds by four games in the NL wild-card race.

St. Louis had regained their balance recently until running into this Braves buzzsaw. Still, the Cardinals lead the NL Central by 3 ½ games over the second-place Reds.

Atlanta has won four of five games vs. St. Louis this season. These two teams split six games last year.

The Braves are 24-26 on the road this season, and 15-19 as underdogs.

The Cardinals are 30-19 at home this year, and 48-28 as favorites.

Atlanta’s Jason Shiell (no ML record this year) makes his first career ML start Wednesday. The 29-year-old right-hander appeared in 20 games for San Diego and Boston in 2002 and ’03, but hasn’t pitched in the majors since then.

St. Louis counters with defending Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter (8-4, 2.85) for Wednesday’s series finale. Carpenter has allowed 7 ER and 16 H+W in his last 22 IP. The Cardinals are 12-6 in Carpenter’s starts this year, the over/under 8-10.

Carpenter has made two starts vs. Atlanta this year and last, giving up 4 ER and 11 H+W in 13 IP.

The Braves own a .342 team OBP this season, 4th-best in the NL, and are averaging 5.4 runs per game.

St. Louis owns a .344 team OBP, 2nd-best in the league, and is averaging 5.0 RPG.

The Atlanta bullpen has allowed 12 ER and 38 H+W in its’ last 21 1/3 IP.

The Cardinals pen has given up 12 ER and 33 H+W in its’ last 22 innings of work.

Braves IF Marcus Giles has missed the first two games of this series with a bum thumb, and he’s listed as questionable for Wednesday.

The o/u is 53-38 in Braves games this year, 51-37 in Cardinals games, and 26-21 at the new Busch Stadium.

Like bonuses? Vip Sports has the best running bonus offer of any online sportsbook!

The Ultimatecapper Pick: We’re laying heavy chalk here with Carpenter and the Cards. This Braves pitcher is a gas can. Also, the Cardinals were EMBARASSED bigtime yesterday in a blowout. You can bet they’ll be back and motivated for revenge today.