After a bullpen implosion on Tuesday evening, the Atlanta Braves could really use a win on Wednesday afternoon. Brian Snitker’s team has dropped four in a row and, while some of that damage is mitigated by the six-game winning streak that occurred before the slide, Atlanta’s divisional advantage has slipped to only 5.5 games.
Touki Toussaint takes the ball for the Braves in this matinee spot, and the talented right-hander does provide some confidence. Though his ERA doesn’t look great (4.67) right now, Toussaint has been effective when deployed as a starter and, under the light of the sun on Wednesday afternoon, he is capable of spinning a gem to help the Braves out of their recent slumber.
The Cardinals will utilize fellow youngster Jack Flaherty, who was a first round pick in the same 2014 draft that sent Toussaint to Atlanta. Flaherty has been tremendous for the Cards this season, posting a 2.87 ERA across 25 starts, and the Braves weren’t exactly explosive offensively in the previous match-up between the two teams.
From a Las Vegas perspective, this is seen as a virtual coin flip and that should illustrate the uncertain nature of the proceedings. With the Phillies arriving for a pivotal series on Thursday, there is no denying the importance of avoiding a five-game downturn and there will be plenty of eye balls on SunTrust Park on this fine afternoon.
Stay tuned throughout the day for all the latest.
Game Info
Time/Date: Wednesday, September 19, 12:10 pm ET
Location: SunTrust Park
TV: Fox Sports Southeast, MLB Network (out of market), Fox Sports Go (streaming)
Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM, 106.7 FM Braves Radio Network