Anibal Sanchez and the Braves enter Tuesday trying to snap a three-game skid and hand the Cardinals their first loss at SunTrust Park (4-0).
Here’s a rundown before the game:
1. The Braves have lost 13 of 17 at home, falling to 38-37 in Atlanta. They own the 10th best home mark in the National League, complemented by the best road results (45-30).
They have six games remaining to secure a winning record at home, and if they don’t they’d likely become just the second team since 1903 to qualify for the postseason with a losing mark at home, joining the 2001 Braves (40-41).
2. St. Louis has defeated the Braves seven consecutive times in Atlanta. The Braves had won four consecutive over the Cardinals prior to Monday, but dropped nine of 11 meetings beforehand.
The Braves swept the Cardinals in St. Louis earlier this year, outscoring them 22-10 with their starters producing a 0.00 ERA. These Cardinals, post-managerial change, have a new life and currently possess a wild card spot.
3. Second baseman Ozzie Albies scored his 100th and 101st runs of the season Monday, making him the first Brave to score triple-digit runs since Freddie Freeman in 2016 (102). He could become the first Brave to score more than 102 runs since Chipper Jones plated 108 in 2007.
4. Ronald Acuna will play his 100th career game Tuesday. He’s posted 54 extra-base hits, ninth most ever in one’s first 100 games. Joe DiMaggio holds the record with 69.
5. The Braves could use a lengthy outing from Sanchez. Their pitchers have labored lately, with most of the attention shifting to their 39 walks over the past five games. Even Mike Foltynewicz, the team’s best starter, walked four and lasted only 4-2/3 Monday.
This period goes a long way in determining how the postseason roster could shake out. Sanchez has been the posterchild of consistency. Another couple solid outings should ensure him a spot in the rotation.
He nor the Braves anticipated this fate when the Braves signed him in mid-March after the Twins quickly bid farewell. The signing won’t get a lot of publicity at the national scale, but it’s been among general manager Alex Anthopoulos’ best finds.
