T.M. Selection: Atlanta Braves -1.5.

I like the Atlanta Braves runline in this game against the St Louis Cardinals on Thursday. The Braves have won 3 games in a row now and are going for the sweep here but they have been on a heater since the start of June and I think they have locked on to that 1st place spot in their division, looking to take it before the All Star break. The Cardinals have lost 4 games in a row now and have been in a real offensive slump in those games. Spencer Strider (4-2, 2.87 ERA) is up for the Braves here and he has been having a great year. He has had a lot of success in their bullpen this year but has translated that over into his starts and I think he is going to have another great start here. He has only given up 1 run in his 2 most recent starts, pitching 12 innings and racking up 18 strikeouts total in those 2 games. He has been a strikeout machine and I expect him to pitch another great outing here. Matthew Liberatore (2-1, 5.66 ERA) is up for the Cardinals here and he is in his rookie year still but hasn't looked great in his few starts this year. He has only made 5 starts this year but has given up 4+ runs in a majority of those starts, including his previous starts where he gave up 5 runs in less than 3 innings. I expect the Braves lineup to stay hot here and bring in some runs here while Strider keeps the Cardinals off the board for a majority of this game. I like the Braves runline here.

T.M. Prediction: 6-2 Braves.