Series preview: vs St. Louis Cardinals
When (TV): 7:10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday (SPSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers:
Monday: Braves RH Aaron Harang (3-2, 2.97 ERA) vs. RH Shelby Miller (3-2, 3.15 ERA)
Tuesday: Braves RH Gavin Floyd (0-0, 0.00) vs. LH Tyler Lyons (0-2, 4.20)
Wednesday: Braves LH Mike Minor (0-0, 3.00) vs. RH Adam Wainwright (5-2, 2.16)
About the Braves:
Batting: Offensive woes continue for a team that has scored only 10 runs during a six-game losing streak. The Braves have hit only 5-for-39 (.128) with runners in scoring position during that time. Since his two-homer game in Philadelphia on April 14, Dan Uggla is hitting .173 (9-for-52) with one extra-base hit (double), 17 strikeouts and no RBIs. Justin Upton went 1-for-11 with seven strikeouts in the weekend sweep by the Giants.
Pitching: Harang gave up a career-high nine earned runs in his last outing Wednesday night in Miami, after allowing only three earned runs in his first five starts over 31 2/3 innings. He was leading the majors' with a 0.85 ERA at the time and watched it rise to 2.97, now 36th overall. Harang was pitching on six days' rest and said he never felt comfortable. This time he goes on normal rest.
Miscellaneous: Floyd is set to make his Braves debut Tuesday after a year out recovering from Tommy John surgery. He pitches in place of Ervin Santana, who is skipping a start to nurse a jammed right thumb. Minor vs. Wainwright is a rematch of the duel Minor won 4-1 against the Cardinals July 26.
About the Cardinals:
Batting: Entering Sunday night's game, the Cardinals had averaged only 1.9 runs per game while losing six of their previous seven road games. The Cardinals ranked 11th in the NL batting .223 with runners in scoring position, which was still better than the Braves (13th at .214). Allen Craig is 11-for-29 (.379) over with past seven games, with two doubles, one triple, two home runs and six RBIs. Yadier Molina is ranked fifth in the NL with a .343 batting average.
Pitching: Miller gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings in his season-opener in Pittsburgh but has allowed only seven earned runs in 29 innings (2.17 ERA) since. He has walked three or more batters in each of his six starts this season, and given up seven home runs. Miller is 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA in two starts against the Braves, walking two and striking out 12.
Miscellaneous: The Cardinals have lost three of their past four series, including the first two games of their weekend series against the Cubs. The finale was Sunday night. The Cardinals were swept by the Braves on their last trip to Turner Field in July, but won three of four a month later in St. Louis.
- Carroll Rogers
