Braves at Cardinals
The Atlanta Braves stumbled through a homestand against two last-place teams, but the National League East leaders enter Sunday’s series finale at the St. Louis Cardinals aiming for a sweep to start their 10-game road trip. The Braves pounded St. Louis for the second consecutive night Saturday, getting a grand slam and five RBIs from Nick Markakis and three hits from Ozzie Albies en route to a 11-4 victory as Atlanta maintained a three-game lead over Philadelphia in the division.
Markakis, who looks like he will be an All-Star selection for the first time in his 13-year career, finished 2-for-3 and is hitting .326 while leading the NL with 104 hits on the season as the Braves scored 10-plus runs for the 11th time in 81 games. The Cardinals have hit a dry spell offensively after winning four games in a row, collecting just six runs on 19 hits in losing their past three games. St. Louis center fielder Tommy Pham finished hitless in three at-bats Saturday and is mired in a 0-for-29 skid. Harrison Bader finished 2-for-3 and is 8-for-17 in his past six games for the Cardinals.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS South (Atlanta), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-4, 2.14 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH John Gant (2-2, 3.48)
Foltynewicz struggled with his control in his first start after coming off the disabled list with right forearm tightness Monday against Cincinnati, walking four hitters but allowing one run on one hit in five innings. The 26-year-old is a big reason why the Braves have surpassed expectations, entering Saturday third in the NL in ERA and ninth in strikeouts (98). Foltynewicz seeks a good outing against the Cardinals, as he is 1-2 with a 9.95 ERA in three career starts against St. Louis.
Gant has split time between St. Louis and Triple-A Memphis, and currently is on his third stint this season with the big-league club. The 25-year-old, who had marginal success in three starts earlier this season, walked five hitters Monday against Cleveland but allowed only one hit in seven shutout innings to earn the victory. Gant, who went 1-4 with a 4.86 ERA in 20 games as a rookie with Atlanta in 2016, is 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA in 22 innings as a starter in 2018.
WALK-OFFS
1. Albies extended his hitting streak to 10 games Saturday while 3B Johan Camargo pushed his hitting streak to seven games.
2. After Sunday, the Cardinals play 17 of their next 20 games on the road - where they are 19-18 on the season.
3. Atlanta designated OF Peter Bourjos for assignment in advance of Saturday’s game, clearing a roster spot for RHP Max Fried.