St. Louis @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Mar 14, 2013 ) Atlanta 4, St. Louis 5
Adam Wainwright looks to become the third pitcher to notch his 14th win on Friday, when the St. Louis Cardinals begin an 11-game road trip with the opener of a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves. Wainwright, who tops the National League in victories, attempts to match Detroit's Max Scherzer and Tampa Bay's Matt Moore for the major-league lead. St. Louis completed its first three-game home sweep of Philadelphia in 12 years on Thursday and recorded its 12th win in 15 outings with a 3-1 triumph.
While the Cardinals extended their lead in the NL Central to 2 1/2 games over Pittsburgh, Atlanta is eight games ahead of both the Phillies and Washington in the NL East. While the cushion is nice, the Braves have dropped four of six and are dealing with the season-ending injury of veteran Tim Hudson. Left-hander Mike Minor will vie for his 10th win as the Braves open a seven-game homestand.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSS (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (13-5, 2.44 ERA) vs. Braves LH Mike Minor (9-5, 2.98)
Wainwright improved to 3-0 in his last five starts after allowing two runs on eight hits in a 3-2 triumph over San Diego on Sunday. The 31-year-old has dominated the Braves in his career, posting a 6-1 mark with a 2.98 ERA. Wainwright has been equally as impressive on the road this season, brandishing an 8-1 record with a 1.15 WHIP.
Minor deserved a better fate in his last trip to the mound as he permitted two earned runs for the second straight start and struck out eight in as many innings versus the Chicago White Sox. The 25-year-old hasn't surrendered a homer in three consecutive outings after serving up five in his previous three starts. Minor does not have a decision versus St. Louis despite yielding 10 runs - including five homers - in 9 2/3 innings over the course of two outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta 2B Dan Uggla went 5-for-10 with a homer in his last three games but is 4-for-22 lifetime against Wainwright.
2. St. Louis 2B Matt Carpenter has amassed 14 hits while hitting safely in eight of his last nine contests.
3. Atlanta C/LF Evan Gattis saw his six-game hitting streak come to an end on Thursday.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Braves 2