Four had fallen straight until they snapped from their swoon with a 9-0 thrashing of the Cubs in their season finale. Despite their recent freefall, St. Louis managed to put claim to the NL Central crown and must now traveling to Atlanta to fulfill the NL East champs.
The Cards and the Braves met in May when Atlanta took two of three in the home and then traveled to St. Louis a couple of weeks after the exact same results. The Braves hold a advantage on the Cardinals this year.
In this late day matchup, the Cards will ship Miles Mikolas (9-14, 4.16 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) to the bulge where he will attempt to hold the Braves in bay for six to seven innings prior to the aid corps takes place.
The 31-year-old veteran last took the hill on September 22nd and held that the Cubs to two runs (one earned) over seven-plus innings in a 3-2 Cardinals victory. Mikolas ended the regular season on an uptick with a 1-1 record and a 3.34 ERA finished his five starts in September.
Atlanta will turn to Dallas Keuchel (8-8, 3.75 ERA, 1.37 WHIP), who they signed midseason from free service, to open their postseason this afternoon.
The veteran southpaw was a solid member of the turning for St. Louis but has since dropped his past 3 starts and also surrendered a combined 12 runs on 21 hits over 16 innings of work. In August of 2016, Keuchel pitched as a part of the Astros and allowed six runs.
The MLB chances are showing the Braves as anywhere from -137 to -146 home favorites in this matchup but I believe that is providing St. Louis backers really a bit of value here.
Lets not forget that Atlanta has two key offensive performers recovering from disorders in the kinds of outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (groin) and also slugger Freddie Freeman (bone spur in right elbow). Both will play in todays match but are currently battling .
Moreover, I enjoy how St. Louis Miles Mikolas has rounded into form as the year wound versus what seems to be a gassed Dallas Keuchel.
Despite the early-season fights on the street of Mikolas, hes turned that completely around on his last four looks away from Busch Stadium by enabling a combined six earned runs over 23 innings of work where the Cardinals won all four of those games.
Let us take what the oddsmakers are giving back and us the road dog in our MLB selections and watch the Cardinals go out into a 1-0 edge in the NLDS.
Last Score: Cardinals 6 — Braves 4
Free MLB Pick: Cardinals +132 at 5Dimes

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