This is a 10* on ATLANTA

The good news for Atlanta is that they have not lost back to back games since the All Star Break. The bad news is that they also have not won back to back games since the All Star Break. For the sake of Tuesday, they hope the pattern of alternating wins and losses (now over the course of 17 games) continues as they are off a loss heading into St. Louis. The Cardinals may be at home, but the Braves are favored in this one as they try to move within a game of .500. The Braves have the NL East’s best run differential, which is something worth mentioning. They are only 3.5 games out of first place. St. Louis is very much in “also-ran” status in the Central, trailing Milwaukee by 10 games. The Cardinals may have a better than .500 record (56-52), but they have a -37 run differential. Compare that to Atlanta, whose run differential is +49. The Braves are the better team, which is why they are favored, and Max Fried is looking to stay unbeaten for his career against St. Louis. Earlier in 2021, Fried allowed just one run, two hits and two walks in a 9-1 win over the Cardinals. He has a 0.65 ERA in three games against them. Jon Lester will be making his St. Louis debut on Tuesday. The problem is he’s lasted six innings just three times this season and he lost to Baltimore in his final start for the Nationals. The Braves are one of five NL teams to have scored 500 runs this year. Play on ATLANTA

AAA