This story was originally published by Dead Spin
After their start to the second half of the season was delayed because of rain, the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves will resume their race for the top National League wild-card spot with a split doubleheader on Saturday.
The Braves have a 3 1/2-game lead over St. Louis in the wild-card standings. The Cardinals won two of three games against Atlanta when the teams met last month in St. Louis.
Saturday’s first game will feature St. Louis’ Kyle Gibson (7-3, 4.16 ERA) against Atlanta’s Charlie Morton (5-5, 4.07) in a battle of right-handers.
Gibson is coming off a rough outing in his most recent appearance, against the Chicago Cubs last Saturday. He received a no-decision after allowing four runs and a season-high 10 hits in four innings of a game in which the Cardinals came back to win 5-4.
“I can’t say enough about the bullpen,” Gibson said. “What a great job they did coming in throwing up five series, really giving the offense chance after chance. These are the team wins that you look back on in September and October and builds you as a team and gets to where you want to be.”
Gibson has made six career starts against Atlanta, going 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA. He faced the Braves on June 26 in St. Louis and took the loss after allowing four hits on four runs, five walks — with four strikeouts — over four innings.
Morton received a no-decision after his last start on July 10 at Arizona. He pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on five hits — including two homers — and had five strikeouts. The Atlanta bullpen blew the lead, and the Diamondbacks won 7-5.
“That’s the first time our bullpen has given up a lead in a long, long time,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s going to happen.”
Morton has made 21 career starts against the Cardinals, with very little luck. He’s 4-12 with a 5.32 ERA against them. He did not face the Cards when the teams played in St. Louis in June. He won his lone start against St. Louis in 2023.
The starting pitchers for the second game on Saturday will feature St. Louis ace Sonny Gray (9-6, 3.34 ERA) against fellow right-hander Bryce Elder (1-3, 5.71), who will be added to the roster following the first game.
Gray has gone 0-2 with a 6.07 ERA over 16 1/3 innings in his last three starts. In his last appearance on Friday, he pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts against the Chicago Cubs.
Gray is 0-3 with a 3.38 ERA in six lifetime starts against the Braves. He lost to Atlanta last season, allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Elder, who has bounced between Atlanta and Triple-A Gwinnett this season, will make his eighth start on Saturday. He pitched five innings against Arizona on July 8 and received a no-decision after allowing three runs on four hits and two walks. He had one strikeout.
Elder is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in two career starts against the Cardinals. He started against them on June 26 and took the loss, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings.
Atlanta’s Spencer Schwellenbach, originally scheduled to start the series opener, was moved back to start Sunday’s series finale.
–Field Level Media
