Cardinals vs. Braves: Kris Medlen does not lack confidence

Atlanta Braves pitcher Kris Medlen is arguably performing like the best pitcher in baseball going into the team's Wild Card matchup with the defending World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Braves haven't lost a game Medlen has started in since May 23, 2010, a streak of 23-straight starts.

A reporter asked Medlen if his streak would end at some point, and Medlen, sharp as he is, responded with, "Will it?"

The guy isn't big at 5-foot-10, or overpowering with a 92 mile per hour fastball, but as David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution put it, Medlen is a sports psychologists' dream. And perhaps quotes like these are the reason why:

"I'm a little anxious and nervous no matter what the start is like," said Medlen. "It's a one-game situation so obviously it's going to be a little bit stressful but (I'll) approach it with some confidence and know that we can go to the next round....

"People approach things negatively and positively, and I'm one of the positive people. I don't think like, ‘Oh man what if we lose.' I'm thinking, ‘Man, what if we win?'"

Word.