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For the first time in MLB history, two Wild Card teams will play one another on Friday in a one-game playoff to determine which will advance to the divisional round. The defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals know all about performing under that kind of pressure after their incredible sports betting run in 2011, and will travel to Turner Field to take on the Atlanta Braves in a winner takes all matchup. The Braves finished the regular season with 93 wins, six more than St. Louis, but according to the new playoff format get no better than one game against the Cardinals to try and advance to the divisional round.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves
Friday October 5, 2012 – TBD
Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia
MLB Sportsbook Line: Atlanta Braves – 120

Many Betonline critics will argue that Atlanta deserves more than one chance to get to a legitimate postseason series, but that won’t matter when the lights turn on at Turner Field this weekend. The Braves have no alternative but to take care of business at home on Friday, and it will be interesting to see how much of an effect if any the home field advantage has on the outcome of the game.

MLB Betting Preview: St. Louis Cardinals

With one game to determine their fate the Cardinals will hand the ball to veteran Kyle Lohse, who led the team in ERA and WHIP this season. The 33-year old Lohse went 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA, and St. Louis has complete trust in that a rough couple of outings to close the regular season were the result of a lack of urgency. Lohse should feel comfortable with the run support behind him after the Cardinals’ offense finished 5th in the majors in runs scored. Even more important is the experience the St. Louis offense gained in clutch situations a year ago, when playoff heroes such as David Freese, Jon Jay, and Yadier Molina carved their places in Cardinals lore.

MLB Betting Preview: Atlanta Braves

The Braves will certainly have something to prove as the team that St. Louis beat out for the final NL Wild Card spot a year ago, especially after having to watch from home as the Cardinals made their run all the way to the World Series. Atlanta owned the better record this online betting season and should get a boost from playing at home, but with an offense that wasn’t nearly as productive as the group in St. Louis pitching will be key. The Braves have not yet named their starter for Friday’s game, but are likely to turn to Kris Medlen. Medlen finished the regular season at 10-1 with an incredible 1.57 ERA, and is expected to get the call.

MLB Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

For as good as Medlen has been all season, he now has to pitch in a pressure situation against a clutch offense that ranked in the top-five this past season. The Cardinals will counter Atlanta’s home field advantage with their championship experience and ability to come through when the stakes are the highest, once again upsetting the Braves for a spot in the postseason. For all of the latest MLB news and odds, be sure to check out the best sports betting sites.

MLB Betting Pick: St. Louis Cardinals + 110