The St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves continue their early-season National League clash on April 22, 2025, at Truist Park, with both clubs in search of momentum amid mixed starts. While Atlanta is beginning to heat up with a four-game winning streak and a stellar 7–2 home record, St. Louis arrives in desperate need of a turnaround after dropping five straight and owning just a 1–10 mark on the road. This game presents a sharp contrast in form and confidence, and with both teams still trying to establish their identities in the competitive NL landscape, every inning holds weight. The pitching matchup features Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz (1–0, 2.16 ERA), who has quietly been one of their steadiest arms, against Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (0–1, 3.60 ERA), a strikeout machine who’s looking to settle into a groove after some early inconsistency. With a home crowd behind them and offensive weapons beginning to find their stride, the Braves have a clear momentum advantage heading into this matchup, but the Cardinals’ pitching and occasional offensive sparks make them capable of playing spoiler. For St. Louis, Steven Matz has been one of the lone bright spots during a rough April. With a sparkling 2.16 ERA, Matz has succeeded by working efficiently and keeping the ball in the park—something the Cardinals’ other starters have struggled with. The challenge for him will be facing a Braves lineup that’s suddenly clicking and features dangerous hitters like Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna, who have combined for eight home runs and over 25 RBIs.

If Matz can command his sinker and keep the Braves’ powerful right-handed bats on the ground, he can provide the Cardinals with a path to stay competitive deep into the game. Offensively, Brendan Donovan has been one of the few consistent hitters for St. Louis, entering with a .380 batting average and 13 RBIs. However, the supporting cast—Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Willson Contreras—has yet to find rhythm at the plate, leading to a series of low-scoring outputs and missed opportunities with runners in scoring position. For the Cardinals to snap their losing streak, they must break through early against Strider and avoid falling behind, which has been a troubling trend throughout their current skid. The Braves, meanwhile, are trending upward thanks to strong play at home and timely contributions from their core. Spencer Strider, despite an 0–1 record, remains one of the most electric arms in baseball with his strikeout prowess and fiery mound presence. His 3.60 ERA is respectable, and he’ll be looking to build deeper into games while reducing pitch count inefficiencies. With Riley anchoring the offense and Ozuna swinging the bat well, the Braves also benefit from strong complementary pieces like Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II, giving them one of the more dynamic lineups in the National League when healthy. Their defense has been clean, and their bullpen—led by closer Raisel Iglesias—has been sharp during their recent winning streak. Given the Cardinals’ road woes and offensive struggles, Atlanta has a prime opportunity to continue their surge and assert themselves as early contenders in the NL East. If Strider dominates the zone early and the offense continues to produce runs in bunches, the Braves could be in for another convincing home win, further burying a St. Louis team that’s in urgent need of a spark.