St. Louis @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2018 ) St. Louis 8, Atlanta 1

The Atlanta Braves wrap up a three-game home series Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals searching for answers to their anemic showing at home this season, one that continues to keep the Philadelphia Phillies alive in the National League East race. The Braves lost their fourth consecutive home game Tuesday, an 8-1 defeat that dropped Atlanta’s record at SunTrust Park to 38-38 and shrunk its lead in the division to 5 ½ games.

The Braves' pitching staff has fallen apart during the losing streak, issuing 29 walks while allowing 32 runs and posting an ERA of 7.75. After a quality start by Anibal Sanchez on Tuesday, four Atlanta relievers combined to give up four runs on four hits with three walks in the eighth inning. St. Louis, which started the day one-half game ahead of Colorado for the final NL wild-card spot, benefited from shortstop Paul DeJong homering for the second consecutive game – giving him four career homers in five games at Atlanta. Second baseman Kolten Wong has hit safely in seven of 10 games since coming off the disabled list, and is batting 5-for-7 with a homer and three RBIs through the first two games of the series.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Southeast (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (8-7, 2.86 ERA) vs. Braves RH Touki Toussaint (1-1, 4.67)

Flaherty comes into his 26th start holding opposing hitters to a .193 batting average on the season and has posted a 2.42 ERA in the second half, as the rookie quietly establishes himself as a future cornerstone of the St. Louis rotation. The 22-year-old lost his last start Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers despite allowing only one run on four hits with eight strikeouts in six innings, his first loss in his past eight starts. Flaherty averages 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings and owns a 1.063 WHIP, striking out 168 in 138 1/3 innings.

Toussaint makes his fifth appearance and fourth start of his MLB career, and control is a key factor for the 22-year old who has walked nine in his past 6 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs with four walks in one inning of relief Saturday against Washington, six days after walking five in 5 2/3 innings at Arizona. Toussaint, one of the Braves' multiple high-end prospects, won his major-league debut against Miami on Aug. 13 with two hits allowed across six innings, then no-hit Boston for four innings on Sept. 3 before giving up three runs on four hits.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cardinals are 37-22 since manager Mike Shildt assumed command, and their 36 victories since the All-Star break leads the NL.

2. Atlanta has lost its past eight home games to the Cardinals, and overall is 4-14 at home since Aug. 16.

3. St. Louis has homered in 110 of its 152 games this season, going 75-35 (.682) in those contests.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Braves 2