Atlanta @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 22, 2018 ) Atlanta 2, St. Louis 8

The St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game home series Friday against the Atlanta Braves in a matchup of teams looking to shake off recent slumps and build momentum heading into the final two weeks before the All-Star break. The Cardinals lost Wednesday to Cleveland, ending a four-game winning streak that was preceded by eight losses in 10 games, while the Braves endured a miserable homestand - losing four of six against last-place teams in Baltimore and Cincinnati.

Atlanta activated rookie outfielder Ronald Acuna (right knee sprain) from the disabled list Thursday, but outfielder Ender Inciarte (right oblique) and second baseman Ozzie Albies (left foot) will be game-time decisions for the first-place Braves in the series opener. A bigger concern is the Braves bullpen, which posted a 5.46 ERA with 14 walks in 29 2/3 innings on the recent homestand. St. Louis has pitched better of late, posting a 2.20 ERA in the past five games after allowing 5.6 runs per game during its previous 10 contests. Outfielder Tommy Pham remains mired in a miserable stretch, going hitless over his last 24 at-bats, and is batting just .171 with 39 strikeouts in 34 games since May 20.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (5-5, 4.52 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (8-2, 2.69)

Teheran makes his 16th start of the season and 178th of his big-league career, and nothing captures his inconsistency better than his past two outings. The 27-year-old fired six no-hit innings June 17 against San Diego to snap a three-start losing streak, only to give up four first-inning runs - seven in all over 4 2/3 innings -in a loss Saturday to Baltimore. Since starting the season 4-1, Teheran is 1-4 in his past six outings with a 6.06 ERA and seven homers allowed in 32 2/3 innings.

Mikolas had not appeared in the majors since 2014 before breaking camp in the St. Louis rotation this spring, and the 29-year-old has pitched himself into All-Star consideration with a strong first three months. He has walked just 12 hitters in 97 innings while ranking second in the National League in WHIP (0.97) and sixth in ERA entering Thursday. Mikolas retired 15 hitters in a row at one point in Saturday’s victory at Milwaukee, allowing just two runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings as the Cardinals improved to 10-5 in his 15 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta placed RHP Brandon McCarthy (right knee tendinitis) on the disabled list Thursday and recalled RHP Matt Wisler, who could start in McCarthy’s place Saturday.

2. St. Louis INF Matt Carpenter walked, doubled and scored Wednesday against Cleveland, one game after collecting five runs and five hits in a victory.

3. The Cardinals are hopeful SS Paul DeJong (left hand fracture) can begin a minor-league rehab assignment in the coming days.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Braves 2