Braves vs Cardinals NLDS

[E. T. 4,863]

Here we go Braves nation! The moment has arrived! Let's go get it!

ATLBrave, please provide us with your expert in depth information brother..... CHOP ON!

[Unknøwn 10,867]

Chipper Jones will throw out first pitch on Thursday. 

[Unknøwn 10,867]

 

[K26dp 4,651]

1 hour ago, Unknøwn said:

Chipper Jones will throw out first pitch on Thursday. 

Will he throw it to Blooper?

[tl;dr 7,695]

Time to win a series for the first time in 18 years! 

[ATLBrave 3,289]

6 hours ago, E. T. said:

Here we go Braves nation! The moment has arrived! Let's go get it!

ATLBrave, please provide us with your expert in depth information brother..... CHOP ON!

I’ll have it ready by tomorrow!

[CrimsonFalcon 3,545]

Think it's suitable for the NLDS...?

 

I do...

 

 

Uck 'em!

[Unknøwn 10,867]

A little filler between games. Braves series continues with a look at the legendary Charlie Culberson.

 

[Unknøwn 10,867]

As expected, Snitker will go Keuchel, Folty and Soroka. Fried will be in the bullpen.

[Unknøwn 10,867]

Snitker said Julio will not be on the NLDS roster. Ortega will be, they'll go with a 6 man bench. Tomlin will be on roster as the long relief. Riley is also believed to be among the cuts.

 

[Unknøwn 10,867]

Cards Game 1 SP Mike Mikolas had a 5.40 ERA on the road this year. 

[ATLBrave 3,289]

GAME 1 HOME - Thursday 10/3 @ 5:02p (TBS)

 Miles Mikolas (9-14; 4.16 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 4.27 FIP) 

vs

 Dallas Keuchel (8-8; 3.75 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 4.72 FIP)

GAME 2 HOME - Friday 10/4 @ 4:37p (TBS)

 TBD

vs

 Mike Foltynewicz (8-6; 4.54 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 4.97 FIP)

GAME 3 AWAY- Sunday 10/6 - 4:10p (TBS)

 Mike Soroka (13-4; 2.68 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 3.45 FIP)

vs

 TBD

GAME 4 AWAY - Monday 10/7 - TBD (If Necessary - TBS)

 TBD

vs

 TBD

GAME 5 HOME - Wednesday 10/9 - TBD (If Necessary - TBS)

 TBD

vs

 TBD

 

Match-up Notes

Atlanta Braves 97-65 (1st in NL EAST; +112 Run Diff.) -- Record vs. Opponent: 4-2

 Offensive Ranking (NL) .258 AVG (4), .336 OBP (3), .452 SLG (4), 249 HR (4), 555 XBH (4), 855 Runs (3)

 Pitching Rankings (NL)  4.19 ERA (5), .256 BAA (12), 1393 SO (11), 548 BB (11), 1.36 WHIP (12), 4.39 FIP (8)

 

St. Louis Cardinals 91-71 (1st in NL CENTRAL; +102 Run Diff.) -- Record vs. Opponent: 2-4

 Offensive Ranking (NL) .245 AVG (11), .322 OBP (9), .415 SLG (12), 210 HR (12), 480 XBH (13), 764 Runs (10)

 Pitching Rankings (NL)  3.80 ERA (2), .238 BAA (3), 1399 SO (10), 545 BB (9), 1.27 WHIP (3), 4.27 FIP (7)

 

The Braves finished the '19 season with a 6-game improvement over the previous year while once again running away with the East. While buoyed by the offseason signings of Donaldson and McCann, it was the mid-season acquisitions that allowed the Braves to capture their second straight Division title.

With the first half of the season mired in disappointment after disappointment from the bullpen, the trades for Martin, Greene, and Melancon proved to be the remedy for those issues, with the trio combining to post a 3.96 ERA (2.58 FIP) over 63 2/3 IP, with 67 Ks, a 1.13 WHIP, and only 8 walks. While those names grabbed the summer headlines, mention must be made of key call-ups/August acquisitions after a myriad of injuries plagued the club:

•  In 24 games for the Braves, Adeiny Hechavarria put together the best stretch of his career, slashing .328/.400/.639 in 70 PA's, all while playing All-World defense at SS.
• Francisco Cervelli further strengthened the bench, to the tune of a .281/.378/.688 slash line in 14 games. 
• After his demoralizing start to the '19 season, Mike Foltynewicz got back to his stellar 2018 form in September, winning 4 of his 5 starts while posting a pristine 1.50 ERA and .070 WHIP over 30 IP. 

 

The Cardinals ended the first half with a disappointing 44-44 record, behind both the Brewers and Cubs. The second half was a different story, as they posted 46-23 record from July 12 to September 23 and allowed them secure the NL Central even despite a 1-4 finish to the regular season. Key offseason acquisition, Paul Goldschmidt, was vital to that resurgence, as he slashed .267/.349/.538 over the last 3 months, improving over .100 points on his paltry .769 first-half OPS. Additionally, RHP Jack Flaherty thrust himself into the role of unlikely Ace while posting a 0.91 2nd-half ERA and holding opposing batters to a .474 OPS. Even with the Cy Young Award being down to basically DeGrom and Scherzer, Flaherty's dominance (led the NL with a 0.97 WHIP) will certainly garner him enough attention to fall in the Top 5, if not as high as Top 3. 

 

POSTSEASON MATCH-UP

• Postseason series match-ups against the Cardinals have not been kind to the Braves, as they are 1-3 (4-10 W-L) against them all-time, including the infamous 2012 Infield-Fly Rule Game.
• Overall, the Braves have not won a series against any opponent since 2001 (HOU) and haven't even forced an NLDS Game 5 since 2004 (HOU). 
• St. Louis is making their first postseason appearance since a 3-1 NLDS loss to the Cubs in 2015. 

 

BRAVES NLDS ROSTER

P: Foltynewicz, Fried, Keuchel, Soroka, Greene, Jackson, Martin, Melancon, Newcomb, O'Day, Tomlin

C: Cervelli, McCann, Flowers

INF: Albies, Donaldson, Freeman, Hechavarria, Swanson

OF: Acuna, Duvall, Hamilton, Joyce, Markakis, Oretga

[vietlanta 40]

45 minutes ago, Unknøwn said:

Snitker said Julio will not be on the NLDS roster. Ortega will be, they'll go with a 6 man bench. Tomlin will be on roster as the long relief. Riley is also believed to be among the cuts.

 

Tomlin over Tehran ? Wtf?

[Unknøwn 10,867]

Snitker said Fried will start Game 4 unless hes needed from the pen before then.

[LouDog 3,642]

14 minutes ago, vietlanta said:

Tomlin over Tehran ? Wtf?

Yeah I don't get that at all

[Black Francis 6,042]

Bummer for Julio. 

[Unknøwn 10,867]

1 hour ago, vietlanta said:

Tomlin over Tehran ? Wtf?

 

1 hour ago, LouDog said:

Yeah I don't get that at all

The beat writers mentioned Julio seems gassed. They said he even just sounded like a man with nothing left after starts. 

[TheTrue7 3,457]

Tomlin is riding in on a 1.12 WHIP.. 

cant thank Julio enough for helping us get here though

[E. T. 4,863]

3 hours ago, Unknøwn said:

Snitker said Julio will not be on the NLDS roster. Ortega will be, they'll go with a 6 man bench. Tomlin will be on roster as the long relief. Riley is also believed to be among the cuts.

 

Good lord! At least put him in the bullpen! I don't agree with this one....

[Unknøwn 10,867]

Riley, Blevins, Wright and Wilson were all sent to Orlando. They'll continue to workout and participate in simulated games. They'll be ready if needed for injury or the NLCS.

[tl;dr 7,695]

No Blevins makes sense against a right-handed heavy team. I would imagine he would get a look if we face the Dodgers. They've got more lefties that he could be used against. 

[Unknøwn 10,867]

Ender is now dealing with a quad strain. His season is likely over no matter how far the Braves advance.

[K26dp 4,651]

If the Braves advance I suspect Teheran and Blevins would be put back on the roster.

[Unknøwn 10,867]

MLB announced Game 3 is at 4:10.

[RING OF HONOR 13,173]

2 hours ago, K26dp said:

If the Braves advance I suspect Teheran and Blevins would be put back on the roster.

I think so too