Braves vs Cardinals predictions
As the Atlanta Braves head into game 2 at Busch Stadium, there are a few players I’ve got my eye on for big performances. Ronald Acuña Jr. just feels poised for a solid game at the plate—not only does he have the speed to grab an extra base hit, but he’s always a threat to score and draw a walk. Matt Olson is another bat to watch; with his power, it wouldn’t shock me to see him leave the park or at least total up a few RBIs. And even though Austin Riley has been dealing with a bit of soreness, if he’s in the lineup that extra pop in his bat could make a big difference. Top that off with Marcell Ozuna, who’s been sneaky consistent, and you’ve got a Braves lineup that’s definitely itching to string together some hits on the road.
On the other side, the St. Louis Cardinals have their own stars ready to shine. Brendan Donovan is batting close to .300 lately, so he could easily rack up multiple hits and set the table for those hitting behind him. Willson Contreras keeps bringing the pop, making him a likely candidate to go deep or drive in a couple of runs—he’s never shy about swinging for the fences. Then you look at Nolan Arenado, whose highlight-reel defense gets plenty of hype, but the smart money is on his bat heating up as well. And with Lars Nootbaar and Alec Burleson swinging hot lately, the top half of this Cardinals order could really pile up some traffic on the bases.
So when it comes down to picking a winner, this one feels a bit tighter than the odds suggest. The Cardinals do look comfortable at home and have the offensive depth to take control, especially with Erick Fedde set to start. But don't count the Braves out—they’ve already shown they can steal games on the road and their big bats are due for a breakout. All things considered, I think the Cardinals just edge this one out—maybe by a run or two—thanks to their balance and the spark from their infield. But who knows? That’s what makes baseball fun.
