Cardinals vs. Braves Live Stream, MLB Playoffs, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time, How to Watch
The Cardinals and Braves will face each other for the fifth time in playoff history when they begin the National League Divisional Series on Thursday in Atlanta. The Cardinals won the NLCS in 1982, the NLDS in 2000 and the 2012 Wildcard game, while Braves won the NLCS in 1996.
Cardinals vs. Braves
- When: Thursday, October 3
- Time: 8:08 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: TBS
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)
The Cardinals (91-71) were in a fight the last week or so of the regular season with the Brewers to decide who would win the NL Central and get a bid to the NLDS against the Braves.
While St. Louis would like to have 23-year-old Jack Flaherty on the mound to start Game 1, he started on Sunday and will likely start Game 2. Miles Mikolas (9-14, 4.16 ERA) is the likely candidate to start Game 1. Mikolas has a 2.61 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against the Braves. Dakota Hudson (16-7, 3.35 ERA) and Adam Wainwright (14-10, 4.19 ERA) will likely round out the NLDS rotation, as Michael Wacha deals with a right shoulder strain. Both Hudson (2.75 ERA) and Wainwright (2.56 ERA) have better stats at Busch Stadium, which is where Games 3 and 4 will be held. Hudson’s leading 16 wins also are first in the Majors for rookies.
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina had a difficult offensive start to the year, but since coming off the injured list in mid-August, he’s posted a .802 OPS. Shortstop Paul DeJong, the Cardinals’ lone All-Star this year, hit a wall offensively late in the year, but still ended up with 30 homers.
Meanwhile, the Braves (97-65) clinched the NL Central by four games over the Washington Nationals. In Game 1, expect to see Dallas Keuchel on the mound. Keuchel has made nine postseason starts, including two for the Astros during the 2017 World Series. He’s the most seasoned of anyone in the starting rotation. The other four members of Atlanta’s regular season rotation have combined to make three postseason starts. Every indication is that Mike Foltynewicz will start Game 2. When the series shifts to St. Louis for Sunday’s Game 3, Mike Soroka would likely be given the chance to extend the success he had while on the road during the regular season (1.55 ERA). That’s the third-best road ERA over the course of a full season since 1969 (min. 15 starts).
The Braves lineup is centered around Freddie Freeman, who has gone out and put together another top 10 MVP season with 38 home runs and 121 RBIs. When the Braves signed third baseman Josh Donaldson to a one-year deal before the start of the season, they weren’t sure what they would get. He delivered in every way and has provided a veteran presence in the clubhouse, while tallying 37 home runs, 94 RBIs and an OPS of .900.
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