Atlanta Braves Face Off Against Their Nemesis This Weekend
By Jeff Schafer
Braves Battle Cardinals In Weekend Series
The Atlanta Braves (0-2) take on the St. Louis Cardinals (0-3) at Turner Field for a weekend series starting on Friday at 7:35pm ET. The Cardinals began their season getting swept by the Pittsburg Pirates…a very complete team.
Believe it or not, but in the last four seasons (2012-2015), the Braves hold a 19-10 record against the Cards. I actually don’t predict St. Louis to do well this season and in our predictions post, I picked them to finish third behind the Chicago Cubs and Pirates.
You can watch all these games on FOX Sports South or on MLBtv (if it’s not blacked out in your area) or listen to the broadcast on 680 The Fan. Former Braves pitcher Tim Hudson will join Chip Caray and Joe Simpson in the booth on Saturday.
The probable pitching match-ups are below
Friday 7:35pm ET – Matt Wisler vs Jaime Garcia
Saturday 7:10pm ET – Julio Teheran vs Carlos Martinez
Sunday 1:35pm ET – Williams Perez vs Adam Wainwright
Though just two games into the 2016 season, this will be the first time that Manager Fredi Gonzalez will build a lineup to face a lefty starter.
Freeman has preformed well against tonight’s lefty starter…going 4-7 at the plate with two home runs, five RBIs and a walk.
Wisler will make his first start of the season and it will be interesting to see how his new change-up will hold up against the Cardinals lineup. If you remember, this past offseason Tom Glavine help Wisler develop his change-up. Also, Wisler and Roger McDowell worked on his slider during this past Spring Training.
Both teams will look to get their first victory of the season, but I have a feeling the Braves take the first game in this series. They played well against the Nationals and if a couple plays went the other way, they could be 2-0 instead of 0-2. Also, Braves Nation should could out to Turner Field tonight to support the Braves as they did in the first two games.
Braves starting lineup…
- Ender Inciarte CF
- Erick Aybar SS
- Freddie Freeman 1B
- Adonis Garcia 3B
- Nick Markakis RF
- Hector Olivera LF
- Tyler Flowers C
- Gordon Beckham 2B
- Matt Wisler P