2019 MLB – St. Louis Cardinals @ Atlanta Braves Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is St. Louis Cardinals @ Atlanta Braves taking place? Friday 4th October, 2019 – 21:37 (UK)
Where is St. Louis Cardinals @ Atlanta Braves taking place? SunTrust Park
What is the expected weather for St. Louis Cardinals @ Atlanta Braves? Sunny, 35c
What television channel is St. Louis Cardinals @ Atlanta Braves on? BT Sport 1 in the UK / TBS in the US
Where can I stream St. Louis Cardinals @ Atlanta Braves? BT Sport subscribers can stream the match live via the BT Sport website or app in the UK / MLB.tv in the US
Where can I get tickets for St. Louis Cardinals @ Atlanta Braves? https://www.mlb.com/tickets/season-tickets
What was the outcome in the last meeting? St. Louis Cardinals 7 – 6 Atlanta Braves
THE TEAM NEWS
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
- The Cardinals couldn’t have started their postseason in better shape as they came from behind to steal Game 1 of the NLDS. Trailing by two runs at the top of the eighth innings, St. Louis scored twice in the eighth and four runs in the ninth to put themselves on top in the series.
- With the return of Kolten Wong to the lineup in the opening game of the series, the Cardinals have no injury concerns ahead of this game. Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt will be their player to watch in Game 2, as he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a mammoth home run in Game 1. Marcell Ozuna also went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
- Jack Flaherty will get the start for the Cardinals in Game 2 and, just like Miles Mikolas in Game 1, this will be his postseason debut. The 23-year-old was one of the best pitchers in the National League during the second half of the season, a period where he posted a microscopic 0.91 ERA in 15 starts. During the entire season, he went 11-8 with a 2.75 ERA.
ATLANTA BRAVES
- The Braves crumbled in Game 1 of the NLDS after allowing six runs in the final two frames of the game and, while they scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth, it wasn’t enough and now they are 0-1 in this five-game series. Atlanta must win Game 2 at all costs because the Cardinals looked excellent at home during the regular season (50-31).
- Both Ronald Acuña Jr. and Josh Donaldson featured for the Braves in Game 1, meaning their injuries are a thing of the past now, but Atlanta will likely lose reliever Chris Martin, who suffered an oblique injury during warm-ups. He should be replaced by Julio Teheran.
- Mike Foltynewicz will get the start for the Braves in Game 2, as he has been rewarded for his impressive performance in the last two months of the season. Following a demotion to the Minors midway through the 2019 campaign, Foltynewicz returned to the big-league roster in August and posted a 6-1 mark with a 2.65 ERA in 10 starts. Over the course of the season, the right-hander went 8-6 with a 4.54 ERA.
THE PREDICTION
The Cardinals enter this game in slightly better form and knowing they have already stolen the home-field advantage, but they must not be complacent. The Braves already showed they can do damage against the Cardinals’ pitching in Game 1, so this will likely be a pitching matchup. The Cardinals have the edge due to Flaherty’s impressive second half of the season, and that should be enough to list them as favourites.
