The St. Louis Cardinals (10-14) and Atlanta Braves (9-14) are set to face off in the final game of their three-game series on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The Cardinals secured a dominant 10-4 victory in the second game of the series, evening the matchup at 1-1. Both teams are looking to gain momentum as they aim to climb out of slow starts to the season.
Game Details
- Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
- Time: 12:15 PM ET
- Venue: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
- TV Broadcast: Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports South
- Series Status: Tied 1-1
Team Overview & Key Players
St. Louis Cardinals (10-14, 5th in NL Central)
The Cardinals have been inconsistent offensively, but their bats came alive in Game 2, scoring 10 runs on 12 hits. Their lineup features several left-handed hitters who have excelled against right-handed pitching, which could be pivotal in this matchup.
Key Players
- Lars Nootbaar (OF) – Went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs, and a stolen base in Game 2. Nootbaar is batting .247 with four home runs and 14 RBIs this season.
- Nolan Gorman (2B) – Provides power in the lineup, hitting .264 with five home runs and 16 RBIs.
- Miles Mikolas (SP) – Set to start; holds a 0-2 record with a 5.40 ERA, looking to secure his first win of the season.
Atlanta Braves (9-14, 4th in NL East)
The Braves have struggled to find consistency, particularly on offense, where they rank 23rd in MLB in runs scored (84). Despite their struggles, they have shown flashes of power, ranking ninth in MLB with 29 home runs.
Key Players
- Matt Olson (1B) – Hit a home run in Game 2 and is batting .238 with four home runs and 15 RBIs this season.
- Austin Riley (3B) – A key contributor, hitting .271 with three home runs and 12 RBIs.
- Bryce Elder (SP) – Set to start; holds a 0-1 record with a 7.20 ERA, looking to rebound after a rough outing against Minnesota.
Game 3 Pitching Matchup
| Pitcher | Team | Record | ERA | Last Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles Mikolas | Cardinals | 0-2 | 5.40 | 6.0 IP, 3 ER vs. Diamondbacks |
| Bryce Elder | Braves | 0-1 | 7.20 | 5.0 IP, 4 ER vs. Twins |
Mikolas has been steady but unspectacular, while Elder is looking to bounce back after a tough outing.
Game Outlook & Predictions
- Cardinals’ Strategy: Expect St. Louis to rely on their left-handed hitters, including Nootbaar and Gorman, to exploit Elder’s struggles against lefties.
- Braves’ Adjustments: Atlanta must capitalize on scoring opportunities and limit strikeouts against Mikolas.
- X-Factor: Lars Nootbaar’s ability to spark the Cardinals’ offense could be the difference-maker.
Game Odds
St. Louis Cardinals 9.5
Atlanta Braves – 166
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, April 22, 2025
