This is a 10* TOP TOTAL on the OVER Cards/Braves.

One of our two losers on yesterday's 1-2 card was the "OVER" in this exact series. While that play came up short, we love how Thursday's contest does now finally set up as a higher-scoring shootout.

Neither team has been playing to many high-scoring affairs of late, but we expect those trends to end this evening.

The Cards have seen the total go UNDER the number in four straight (have also lost four in a row), while the Braves have seen the total go UNDER in five straight (going 4-1 in those contests.)

Matthew Liberatore (2-1, 5.66 ERA) who struggled in his last start against the Phillies, allowing five runs over two innings in the loss (is 0-1 with an 11.47 ERA on the road.)

The home side counters with Spencer Strider (4-2, 2.87), who has looked good in back-to-back starts, allowing just one run combined over 12 innings of work.

Strider has been great, but this is just a case of the rookie being in the wrong place at the wrong time tonight.

The situation and the numbers/trends all point to the OVER as the correct call in this one.

Good luck, NP