The Braves are hoping to be on the rebound following a 5-3 loss in extra innings on Friday. They will turn to Brandon Beachy to right the ship against the Cardinals at 1:10 on FOX.
Cardinals Lineup:
1. Jon Jay, RF
2. David Freese, 3B
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Matt Holliday, LF
5. Colby Rasmus, CF
6. Gerald Laird, C
7. Daniel Descalso, 3B
8. Tyler Greene, SS
9. Jake Westbrook, SP
Braves Lineup:
1. Martin Prado, LF
2. Jason Heyward, RF
3. Chipper Jones, 3B
4. Brian McCann, C
5. Dan Uggla, 2B
6. Freddie Freeman, 1B
7. Alex Gonzalez, SS
8. Nate McLouth, CF
9. Brandon Beachy, SP
Jake Westbrook (24.1 IP, 7.40 ERA, 5.56 FIP, 4.92 xFIP, 5.92 BB/9, 4.81 K/9, 61.4 GB%, 8.2 SwStr%)
(61.8 FB%, 15.6 CT%, 11.4 CH%, 11.2 SL%; 44.5 Swing%, 81.4 Contact%)
vs.
Brandon Beachy (29.1 IP, 3.68 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 3.36 xFIP, 2.76 BB/9, 9.51 K/9, 32 GB%, 10 SwStr%)
(62.9 FB%, 16.6 SL%, 11.3 CB%, 9.2 CH%; 45.4 Swing%, 77.1 Contact%)
Westbrook has been bombed on more than one occasion this season, allowing eight runs and seven runs in two of the starts, and his longest outing has been six innings. His most recent outing was his best to date, pitching six shutout innings on three hits against the Reds. Westbrook has walked more than he's struck out, but his ground ball rate is one of the best of his career so far and his line drive rate is down to 15%. He is throwing more cutters and fewer sliders even though the slider was his best pitch last season. But his cutter has been his best so far this season.
After consecutive rough outings, Beachy has responded with consecutive solid outings against the Dodgers and Giants, allowing a total of two runs in 12 innings with 14 strikeouts. After command concerns following a four-walk performance, he has walked just two in his last 12 innings, including none in his most recent outing. Beachy can only work well when he keeps the walks very low and the strikeouts pretty high, and that has resulted in two very solid outings.
Opposing Numbers:
The only Brave with much experience against Westbrook is Alex Gonzalez, who is 5-15 with two doubles. Jason Heyward is 0-2, Chipper Jones is 1-3 with a double, Brian McCann is 2-3, Nate McLouth is 1-2 with a triple and two RBIs, Martin Prado is 2-2 and Dan Uggla is 2-3. Small sample sizes.
The Cardinals don't have any experience against Beachy.
What to Look For:
Westbrook is struggling and Beachy is pitching well right now. The Braves need to take advantage of the matchup and even the series.