The Atlanta Braves enter their July 11, 2025 matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals in an unfamiliar position—struggling for consistency, scuffling at the plate, and fighting to stay relevant in a season that began with championship expectations. At just 2-8 against the spread over their last 10 games and clearly missing the dynamic presence of Ronald Acuña Jr., the Braves have found themselves mired in a frustrating stretch where their high-powered offense hasn’t lived up to its billing, and their starting pitching has been a question mark more often than not. Spencer Schwellenbach is expected to start on Friday, and while the rookie right-hander offers electric stuff and a fearless approach, his lack of experience and recent command issues have made for some rocky outings, particularly against lineups that don’t chase pitches out of the zone—something the Cardinals excel at. Schwellenbach will have to lean on his mid-to-high 90s fastball and sharp slider, but unless he can find early rhythm and avoid deep counts, he could be vulnerable to a St. Louis offense that’s heating up at the right time. Atlanta’s bullpen, once considered a strength, has also come under scrutiny as late-inning collapses have become more frequent, and manager Brian Snitker is still searching for consistent arms to bridge the gap between his starters and closer Raisel Iglesias.

Offensively, the Braves still possess one of the most feared lineups in baseball on paper, with Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and Michael Harris II all capable of game-changing swings, but collectively they’ve struggled with runners in scoring position, often leaving key opportunities unconverted. Albies has been particularly important from both sides of the plate, but his production has been streaky, and the team has sorely missed Acuña’s leadoff spark and elite speed. Matt Olson’s home run pace has cooled, and Riley has battled through minor slumps and some nagging injuries, all contributing to an offense that feels less explosive than in years past. The Braves’ defense remains solid, particularly on the infield, where Orlando Arcia has provided reliable glove work at shortstop, but they’ve been unable to consistently win close games, often finding themselves one mistake or missed opportunity short. Against the Cardinals, Atlanta must capitalize early, especially if Sonny Gray finds his groove on the mound—falling behind against this version of St. Louis makes things tougher, especially when playing in front of a packed Busch Stadium crowd. For the Braves to break their recent slide, Schwellenbach will need to limit damage through five innings, and the offense must find a way to apply sustained pressure on Gray without relying solely on the long ball. A win would go a long way toward stabilizing a team that still has the raw talent to contend but is currently searching for rhythm, identity, and health. If Atlanta can deliver in all three phases—starting pitching, bullpen efficiency, and timely hitting—they have a shot to reclaim some momentum, but another stumble could further dim their postseason outlook and raise questions about how this talented roster finds itself slipping deeper into mediocrity.