Sunday, July 26, 2015

Busch Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Matt Wisler (4-1) vs. Michael Wacha (11-3)

The St. Louis Cardinals host the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium on Sunday. The Braves send Matt Wisler to the mound to face Michael Wacha of the Cardinals. The opening line for this matchup has Atlanta at +184 and St. Louis at -195. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Braves, with a 53-43 run line record, cover the spread 55% of the time. They also have a 48-43 over/under record. The Cardinals have a 37-55 over/under record and a 52-44 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 54% of the time.

The Braves head into this matchup with a 45-51 record, including 19-31 on the road. Starting pitcher Matt Wisler holds a 4-1 record with an earned run average of 3.60 and a WHIP of 1.31. He's pitched 35 innings thus far while surrendering 37 hits over that time and when he starts, the Braves are 4-2. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 1-5. The team is averaging 3.3 runs when he starts. The bullpen has given up 282 hits on the season and have a earned run average of 4.16. Opposing teams are hitting .256 against the Braves bullpen while walking 118 times and striking out 259 times. Atlanta is averaging 7.47 strikeouts per game while getting 9.05 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 21st in baseball in team earned run average at 3.97.

Atlanta is batting .253 as a team, which is good for 16th in the league and hitting .257 away from home. The Braves on-base percentage sits at .316, which puts them at 14th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .364. Nick Markakis leads the team in hits with 103 while the team ranks 17th in baseball with 8.48 hits per game.

With a 35-12 home record, St. Louis will hope to improve on their 62-34 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.20, Michael Wacha will come into this game holding a 11-3 record and a 1.10 WHIP. He's pitched 112.1 innings thus far while surrendering 98 hits over that time in which the Cardinals are 14-4. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 9-8. The team is averaging 5.2 runs when he takes the field. The bullpen has given up 262 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 2.35. Opposing teams are hitting .239 against the Cardinals bullpen while walking 105 times and striking out 264 times. St. Louis is averaging 8.12 strikeouts per game while getting 8.18 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 1st in the league in team earned run average at 2.67.

They are batting .257 as a team, which is good for 7th in the league and hitting .265 at home. The Cardinals on-base percentage sits at .324, which puts them at 6th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .392. Jhonny Peralta leads the team in hits with 107 while the team ranks 8th in baseball with 8.82 hits a game.

In terms of team defense, the Braves have a fielding percentage of .984 with 56 total errors, 963 assists and 2,545 put outs. The Cardinals have committed 55 errors on the season with 951 assists and 2,638 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .985 on the year.

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends

The Atlanta Braves are 48-43 against the over/under so far this season

The Atlanta Braves are 53-43 against the run line so far this season

St. Louis Cardinals Betting Trends

The St. Louis Cardinals are 37-55 against the over/under so far this season

The St. Louis Cardinals are 52-44 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Atlanta Braves

07/25/15 1B Freddie Freeman Wrist Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/18), expected to be activated Saturday vs. St. Louis Cardinals
07/11/15 P Jason Grilli Achilles Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (7/17); out for season
06/27/15 P Williams Perez Foot Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/27)
06/04/15 P Daniel Winkler Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/5)
05/19/15 2B Philip Gosselin Thumb Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/18)
04/07/15 P Josh Outman Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/6)
04/06/15 P Bronson Arroyo Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/6)
04/04/15 P Mike Minor Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27); out for season
04/04/15 P Shae Simmons Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (2/20), out for season
04/04/15 P Chris Withrow Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (2/21)

St. Louis Cardinals

07/06/15 P Jaime Garcia Groin Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/1)
07/03/15 CF Jon Jay Wrist Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/1)
07/01/15 P Matt Belisle Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/26)
05/27/15 1B Matt Adams Quad Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (05/26), out for regular season
05/03/15 P Jordan Walden Bicep Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/30)
04/28/15 P Adam Wainwright Achilles Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/25); out for season

Tony's Pick: Take the Braves

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink