The St. Louis Cardinals face a potential disadvantage in their upcoming game against the Atlanta Braves due to starting pitcher Dustin May's performance in daytime starts. May has recorded a 6.81 ERA in day games this season, significantly higher than his 2.05 ERA in night games. This statistic poses a challenge for the Cardinals as they aim to secure a win in the series.
May's overall season record with the Cardinals stands at 5-6 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. His struggles in day games are compounded by his road ERA of 4.79, compared to a 3.94 ERA at home. A recent outing on the road in a day game saw him allow six earned runs in just two innings against the Kansas City Royals.
The Braves, who have maintained control of their division despite a strong challenge from the Philadelphia Phillies, are set to start Hurston Waldrep. Waldrep is making only his second appearance for the Braves this season. In his previous outing on Friday against the San Francisco Giants, he pitched two innings in relief, allowing two hits, four walks, and recording three strikeouts. He had a more successful 2025 season, starting nine games with a 2.88 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.
The Cardinals' offense ranks fifth in the league with only 7.73 strikeouts per game, suggesting they may be able to put the ball in play against Waldrep, who averages about a strikeout per inning. Despite May's day game ERA concerns, an early lead for the Braves through the first five innings is considered a potential betting advantage by some analysts, who believe Waldrep could deliver a few solid innings before handing the game over to the bullpen.