Game Preview: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves (Game 4)

Sunday, September 12 – 8:05 (ESPN)
St. Louis Cardinals (73-67) vs. Atlanta Braves (82-61)

Kyle Lohse
(7.13 ERA, 5.09 xFIP, 3.29 BB/9, 5.35 K/9, 5.8 SwStr%, 42.3 GB%)
(Career vs. ATL: 8 GS, 2-1, 4.70 ERA, 13 BB, 29 K)
vs.
Tim Hudson
(2.41 ERA, 3.79 xFIP, 2.73 BB/9, 5.32 K/9, 7 SwStr%, 65.1 GB%)
(Career vs. STL: 8 GS, 3-2, 4.96 ERA, 14 BB, 21 K)

Braves vs. Lohse:
1. Omar Infante: 3-19, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 4 K
2. Jason Heyward: 0-3, K
3. Martin Prado: 3-8, 2 RBI
4. Brian McCann: 3-14, RBI, BB, 2 K
5. Derrek Lee: 9-20, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB, 6 K
6. Nate McLouth: 5-19, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, BB, 2 K
7. Alex Gonzalez: 1-3
8. Melky Cabrera: 2-3

Cardinals vs. Hudson:
1. Skip Schumaker: 0-5, BB
2. Jon Jay: 0-1, K
3. Albert Pujols: 10-23, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
4. Matt Holliday: 4-14, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K
5. Colby Rasmus: 4-6, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K
6. Yadier Molina: 1-5, 5 BB
7. Pedro Feliz: 5-27, 2 2B, HR. 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K
8. Brendan Ryan: 3-6, K

What to Watch:
How Tim Hudson performs against the middle of the Cardinals order. Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday and Colby Rasmus have had success against Hudson in the past, and Hudson’s career numbers against the Cardinals are not that great. The Braves would do well to get the bats going against a struggling Kyle Lohse, who has not pitched past the fifth inning in four starts since returning and has allowed seven and eight runs in two of those starts.

My Take on the Opposition:
Lohse has suffered from a forearm injury this season and is at 65 innings, recording a 5.10 xFIP. His walks are up and strikeouts are down, and he is not getting as many grounders or swinging strikes. A .373 BABIP and 53% LOB% spells some of the trouble. Lohse allowed three runs in six innings against the Braves earlier this season. He has a 4.70 ERA in eight career starts against them.