Braves vs. Cardinals Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 8/26/2022

The Atlanta Braves (78-48) visit the St. Louis Cardinals (72-53) at 8:15 PM ET Friday for a sluggers’ duel between two of the best power hitters in MLB. For the favored Braves (-141), Austin Riley has racked up 31 homers this season, fourth in the league, while Paul Goldschmidt ranks third in the majors with 33 dingers of his own this season for the underdogs. Atlanta’s Spencer Strider and St. Louis’ Jose Quintana have been named the starters for this contest.

Braves vs. Cardinals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Braves vs. Cardinals

After taking a look at all of the key statistics and trends for this matchup, our best bet is the Cardinals on the moneyline at +120. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 7.5 runs.

Our computer pick: St. Louis Cardinals (+120) and Over (7.5)

Braves vs. Cardinals Game Info

• Atlanta Braves probable starting pitcher: Spencer Strider
• St. Louis Cardinals probable starting pitcher: José Quintana
• Game Day: Friday, August 26, 2022
• Game Time: 8:15 PM ET
• Location: St. Louis, Missouri
• Stadium: Busch Stadium

Atlanta Braves vs St. Louis Cardinals Pitching Matchup

Braves Starter Spencer Strider

• Strider (7-4) takes the mound for the Braves in his 16th start of the season. He has a 2.95 ERA in 100 2/3 innings pitched, with 151 strikeouts.
• The righty last pitched on Saturday against the Houston Astros, when he threw six innings, allowing one earned run while giving up three hits.
• In 26 games this season, the 23-year-old has put up an ERA of 2.95, with 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are batting .181 against him.
• Strider is trying to pick up his seventh quality start of the season in this outing.
• Strider will look to go five or more innings for his third straight start. He’s averaging 3.3 innings per outing.
• He will match up with a Cardinals squad that is hitting .259 as a unit (fifth in MLB). It is also slugging a collective .427 (fifth in MLB) with 151 total home runs (seventh in MLB).
• Head-to-head against the Cardinals this season, Strider has thrown six innings without giving up an earned run on two hits, while striking out 12.

Cardinals Starter José Quintana

• Quintana (4-5) will take to the mound for the Cardinals and make his 25th start of the season.
• The left-hander gave up two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched on Sunday in his last outing, a matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• The 33-year-old has an ERA of 3.45 and 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .252 in 24 games this season.
• In 24 starts this season, he’s earned a quality start in seven of them.
• In 24 starts this season, Quintana has lasted five or more innings 17 times, with an average of 5.0 innings per appearance.
• The Braves have scored 622 runs this season, which ranks second in MLB. They are batting .252 for the campaign with 190 home runs, second in the league.
• The left-hander has allowed the Braves to go 6-for-21 with two doubles, three home runs and four RBI in five innings this season.

Braves Betting Picks & Insights

• The Braves have won 67, or 69.8%, of the 96 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Atlanta has entered 78 games this season favored by -141 or more and is 57-21 in those contests.
• The sportsbooks’ moneyline implies a 58.5% chance of a victory for the Braves.
• Atlanta and its opponents have hit the over in 62 of their 125 games with a total this season.
• The Braves are 64-61-0 against the spread this season.

Cardinals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Cardinals have been chosen as underdogs in 54 games this year and have walked away with the win 25 times (46.3%) in those games.
• This year, St. Louis has won seven of 24 games when listed as at least +120 or worse on the moneyline.
• Oddsmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Cardinals have a 45.5% chance of pulling out a win.
• St. Louis and their opponents have gone over in 60 of their 128 games with a total set by sportsbooks this season.
• The Cardinals have posted a record of 71-56-0 against the spread this season.

Braves Leaders & Batting Stats

• Riley leads the Braves with 31 home runs on the year. He’s also hitting .284 with 82 RBI.
• Riley’s home runs place him fourth in the majors, and he ranks ninth in RBI.
• Riley carries a two-game hitting streak into this matchup. During his last five outings he is batting .105 with two walks and four RBI.
• Matt Olson’s 87 runs batted in lead his team.
• Olson ranks 10th in homers in baseball, and fifth in RBI.
• Dansby Swanson paces the Braves with a .291 batting average.
• Swanson has at least one base hit in two straight games. During his last five outings he is hitting .200 with a double, two walks and four RBI.
• Ronald Acuna Jr. has 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 45 walks while batting .273.
• Acuna has recorded at least one hit in four games in a row. During his last five outings he is hitting .250 with a double, three walks and an RBI.

Cardinals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Goldschmidt leads the lineup with a batting average of .339, while pacing the Cardinals in home runs, with 33 and runs batted in with 105.
• In all of MLB, Goldschmidt is third in home runs and first in RBI.
• Goldschmidt has collected a hit in three games in a row. During his last five outings he is batting .286 with two home runs, two walks and five RBI.
• Nolan Arenado is batting .300 with 33 doubles, a triple, 26 home runs and 42 walks.
• Arenado ranks 13th overall in home runs and ninth in RBI this season.
• Tommy Edman is batting .256 with 21 doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 39 walks.
• Dylan Carlson is batting .243 with 24 doubles, four triples, eight home runs and 35 walks.