St. Louis @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2018 ) St. Louis 11, Atlanta 6

The first half of the season was miserable for Kolten Wong, but as the St. Louis Cardinals prepare for the middle contest of a three-game series Tuesday at the Atlanta Braves, their second baseman continues his second-half onslaught at the plate. Wong - who hit .213 in the first half - went 3-for-5 with a homer, a double and three RBIs in Monday’s series-opening 11-6 victory to bolster his average to .317 with 15 RBIs in 32 games since the break.

Monday’s victory was much needed for St. Louis (83-68), which has won two in a row after dropping the previous four games in its pursuit of a National League wild-card spot. The Braves (83-67) are closing in on the NL East division crown and benefited from Philadelphia’s loss Monday to drop their magic number to seven, but continue to walk opposing hitters at an alarming rate. Atlanta has issued 26 free passes in losing its past three home games, giving up 24 runs in those defeats, but the Braves maintain a 6 1/2-game lead in the NL East with 12 games to go. Rookie outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. finished 3-for-5 in the opener to raise his average to .328 in 16 games in September.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Southeast (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals LH Austin Gomber (5-1, 3.78 ERA) vs. Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (6-5, 3.01)

Gomber already was pitching well as a rookie in relief, and injuries to multiple starters gave him a chance to move into the rotation, where he has shined. The 24-year-old is 4-1 with a 3.91 ERA in nine turns, winning his first five decisions while giving up more than three runs only once in his first eight assignments. Gomber was hit hard Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, however, allowing seven runs in three innings; he has pitched one scoreless inning of relief against Atlanta this season.

Sanchez was signed in the final days of spring training as a free agent, but the veteran has pitched well enough to earn consideration for a postseason start should Atlanta win the East. The 34-year-old struggled with his control Wednesday at San Francisco, walking five hitters in six innings but gave up only one run with four strikeouts as the Braves improved to 12-9 in his 21 starts. Sanchez has held opponents to three earned runs or fewer 12 times in his past 14 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta 3B Johan Camargo returned to the lineup after missing four games with a groin injury, finishing 1-for-5 with a run scored.

2. St. Louis 1B Matt Carpenter scored two runs and walked twice Monday but did not record a hit, leaving him eight hits shy of reaching 1,000 hits in his career.

3. Braves 2B Ozzie Albies scored two runs Monday, giving him 101 for the season.

PREDICTION: Braves 3, Cardinals 2