The St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves are set to resume their battle for the top National League wild-card spot after a rain delay pushed back the start of the second half of the season. The teams will face off in a split doubleheader on Saturday to make up for lost time and continue their pursuit of a playoff spot.
Currently, the Braves hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the Cardinals in the wild-card standings. The Cardinals, however, have had success against the Braves in the past, winning two out of three games when the two teams met last month in St. Louis. This sets the stage for an exciting matchup as they face off once again in Atlanta.
In the first game of the doubleheader, St. Louis will send Kyle Gibson to the mound to square off against Charlie Morton of the Braves. Gibson, with a 7-3 record and a 4.16 ERA, is looking to bounce back from a tough outing against the Chicago Cubs in his last start. Morton, on the other hand, is coming off a no-decision against the Arizona Diamondbacks and will look to lead the Braves to victory.
Both pitchers have had mixed results against their opponents, with Gibson holding a 2-2 record and a 5.40 ERA in six career starts against the Braves, while Morton is 4-12 with a 5.32 ERA in 21 starts against the Cardinals. It will be interesting to see how they fare in this crucial matchup.
In the second game of the doubleheader, St. Louis ace Sonny Gray will take the mound against Bryce Elder, who will be added to the roster following the first game. Gray, with a 9-6 record and a 3.34 ERA, is looking to get back on track after a rough stretch of games. Elder, meanwhile, will be making his eighth start of the season and will look to make an impact for the Braves.
With both teams vying for a playoff spot, every game becomes crucial as they look to secure their spot in the postseason. The doubleheader on Saturday will be a test of endurance and skill for both teams as they battle it out on the field.
As the race for the wild-card spot heats up, baseball fans can expect an exciting weekend of baseball as the Cardinals and Braves go head-to-head in a crucial series. Stay tuned for all the action and drama as these two teams fight for a spot in the playoffs.
