Cardinals vs. Braves: Kyle Lohse may have tipped pitches

The last time St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse faced the Atlanta Braves, he didn't have his best night. Lohse gave up five runs on nine hits, which included home runs by Brian McCann and Freddie Freeman.

That's not a good sign for the Cardinals going into Friday's one-game Wild Card playoff against the Braves, with Lohse taking the hill for St. Louis and the seemingly untouchable Kris Medlen starting for Atlanta.

Lohse said he thought the Braves hitters knew what was coming and that maybe he'd been tipping his pitches. As a result, Lohse changed his routine. He's not even entirely sure if it worked, or whether it was just a mental thing.

Lohse finished the season 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA and was picked over Adam Wainwright to start the one-game playoff. It works out for the Cardinals to have two high-performing pitchers to choose from, with one to use in the next round in case they win.

With Medlen on the mound for Atlanta, the Wild Card game is set to be a compelling duel.