Though the Atlanta Braves have misplaced the collection, they nonetheless have an opportunity to finish the first half of the season on a excessive observe earlier than heading into the All-Star break.
MLB Braves’ beat author Mark Bowman had introduced on Friday that, as Hurston Waldrep can be despatched again right down to Triple- A, JR Ritchie can be taking his place in at present’s matchup towards the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ritchie’s rookie season has had its ups and downs. After spending a while in Triple-A when the Braves optioned Carlos Carrasco to the energetic roster earlier this month (July 5), Ritchie is trying to make an influence to offer the Braves a stable begin to maintain down the Cardinals, who’ve been getting the better of them on offense all through the collection.
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Holding a 4.60 ERA with 10 video games underneath his belt (three as a reliever), Ritchie remains to be looking for his footing and what works continually for him to stay with. If he has the Braves’ offense on his aspect at present, he may need the push he must spark a high quality outing on the defensive-end for his first matchup towards St. Louis.
As for Cardinals starter Dustin May, he’s trying to assist St. Louis clinch their first collection sweep for the first time since early June. Holding a 4.55 ERA presently, with a 1.25 WHIP, May additionally hasn’t been the most constant in his begins, and is 0-2 when dealing with the Braves in his three begins towards them.
In his final matchup towards Atlanta on July 2, he gave up 5 runs off 5 hits with just one strikeout. This may work to the Braves’ benefit if he finds the identical hassle commanding the strike zone. He did, nonetheless, get a greater displaying in his most up-to-date matchup towards Milwaukee, permitting 4 hits, no earned runs and 7 strikeouts simply this previous Monday.
This matchup will truthfully be a toss-up on which model of those two pitchers we’re going to get to shut out the first half of the common season. Ritchie is trying to keep away from the sweep and May is trying to get one. Both are hoping for a high quality outing after struggling some shaky begins; the query is, who needs it extra?
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Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, July 12, 2:15 p.m. ET
Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
TV: BravesImaginative and prescient
Streaming: MLB.television
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, Los Bravos