Braves Lead 2-1
Yesterday was exhilarating and devastating. We don't need to relive it... at least not until the sting wears off. In large part, that depends on what happens today. It's do or die. Win or go (stay) home for the winter. Backs against the wall. Ok, I'll stop. The Cardinals need a win to keep this wildly wonderful season alive, and to avoid losing three in a row after stealing a win in Game One.
Who knows what it really means now, but the Cardinals have not lost more than two consecutive games since the 0-for-5 road trip through Oakland and Los Angeles in early August.
Here are the nuts and bolts for today.
Linups
Atlanta
Acuña Jr. 8
Albies 4
Freeman 3
Donaldson 5
Markakis 7
Joyce 9
McCann 2
Swanson 6
Keuchel 1
St. Louis
Fowler 8
Wong 4
Goldschmidt 3
Ozuna 7
Molina 2
Carpenter 5
Edman 9
DeJong 6
Hudson 1
Tonight's Starters
Dallas Keuchel *Short rest
19 starts, 112.2 IP, 3.75 ERA, 4.06 xFIP, 7.27 K/9, 60.1 Ground Ball%, 8.0 BB%, 6.9 Barrel%
Vs Cardinals (Game 1): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB
Small Sample Size Warning (Game 1):
Paul DeJong Single, intentional walk
Tommy Edman Double
Paul Goldschmidt Double
What you'll see (from Ben Cerutti)
"...since Keuchel doesn't throw a curve ball, Keuchel's slider is the opposite of his offspeed. It's been a terrible pitch for him the last two months, getting hit for a .381 xwOBA."
Dakota Hudson 32 starts, 174.2 IP, 3.35 ERA, 4.55 xFIP, 56.9 Ground Ball%, 11.4 BB%, 6.1 Barrel%
Vs Braves (2019): 1 Start, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Small Sample Size Warning:
Ronald Acuña Jr. 4 AB, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 SO
Josh Donaldson 3 AB, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 So
Dansby Swanson 4 AB, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 SO
What you'll see (from Ben Cerutti)
"Hudson RARELY uses his offspeed pitch, but that's the pitch that Braves hitters have had the worst time on when it comes to similar pitches."
Fun Facts - "He goes, we go" (Leadoff Guy Edition)
Ronald Acuña Jr.
In the series:
Game 1 - leadoff walk + run in the 1st, single to lead off the 7th, 2-run homer in the 9th
Game 2 - Groundout in the 1st, strikeouts in the 3rd, 5th, and 7th
Game 3 - Strikeout in the 1st, flyout in the 3rd, groundout in the 6th, walks in the 8th & 9th
Dexter Fowler
In the series:
Game 1 - Walk in the 3rd, RBI ground out in the 5th, single + run in the 9th
Game 2 - Strikeout in the 1st, groundout in the 3rd, flyout in the 6th, lineout in the 8th
Game 3 - Strikeout in the 1st, flyout in the 3rd, groundout in the 6th, flyout in the 8th
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