Cardinals at Braves
The St. Louis Cardinals aim for their first series sweep on the road this year when they cap a three-game set at the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. After rolling to their first shutout win (10-0) in the opener of the series, the Cardinals used home runs from Matt Carpenter and Matt Adams along with solid pitching to post a 5-3 triumph Saturday.
Mike Leake and two relievers combined on a four-hitter for St. Louis, which has won 12 of 17 games since opening the campaign with a 3-9 mark. Carpenter has homered in both games of the series while shortstop Aledmys Diaz is 7-for-8 with five RBIs for the Cardinals. After starting 4-0 in their new stadium, the Braves have dropped seven of their last eight games at SunTrust Park. Their only win in that stretch came with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey on the mound, and he will try to salvage the finale for Atlanta opposite right-hander Michael Wacha.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (2-1, 3.23 ERA) vs. Braves RH R.A. Dickey (3-2, 3.94)
Wacha gave up a season-high four earned runs in six frames of a no-decision against Milwaukee on Monday. He has lasted at least six innings while walking two batters or fewer in all five of his starts while recording 28 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old Texas A&M product has a 3.12 ERA in three career games (one start) versus Atlanta.
Dickey will be making the 375th appearance and 275th start of his career while seeking a third straight win after limiting the New York Mets to three runs in six innings Tuesday at home. He has held opponents to a .248 average but six of the 19 hits he has allowed over the last four starts have left the yard. One of the 42-year-old's six career shutouts came against St. Louis and he has a 4.09 ERA in seven career encounters (five starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Diaz is 10-for-13 during a three-game hot stretch to raise his average from .218 to .281.
2. The Cardinals have won five straight games in Atlanta.
3. Braves 3B Adonis Garcia provided all of the home team's offense with a three-run homer in Saturday's loss and he has hit safely in nine of his last 10 contests.