2019 NLDS - Cardinals vs. Braves - Gamethread

[DeadlySplitter]

The Cardinals were the beneficiaries of the Cubs' collapse, and back in the postseason for the first time since 2015. the Braves had a lot go right, including a Donaldson resurgence and rookie Mike Soroka posting really impressive stats. the Braves went out in 4 games to the Dodgers in last year's NLDS and it wasn't all that close, they are looking to make the jump this year.

TBS series, starts Thursday.

 

[Ale Xander]

1996 NLCS rematch. Hopefully the last 3 games end better for the Cardinals than that one.

 

[Sad Sam Jones]

They have more recent postseason history with the 2012 wild card game, when Sam Holbrook used an incredibly liberal interpretation of the infield fly rule to thwart a Braves comeback. I never root for the Cardinals and this year's team is spectacularly meh... they only had 3 everyday hitters with at least a 100 OPS+, led by Paul Goldschmidt's disappointing season (113), and they somehow finished 2nd in the NL in ERA, although Jack Flaherty and setup man Giovanny Gallegos were the only pitchers to have all-star type seasons. Go Braves!

 

[DeadlySplitter]

This series is now confirmed to start at 5:07 on Thursday. It would have been 6:07 if the Brewers won.

rush hour commute in Atlanta.... oof

 

[LogansDad]

Oh my god, the infield fly rule game was 7 years ago??!! It does not feel that long.

Really pulling for Atlanta in this one. They've been my 2nd favorite team since Glavine and Chipper, and also fuck St Louis.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Game 1 matchup: Mikolas vs Keuchel.
game 2 is at 4:37pm Friday. Folty for ATL, nothing announced yet for STL but should be Flaherty.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

I see Soroka as probable for game 3. wasn't this rookie really good? setting him up for only one start in favor of the declining Keuchel seems like an old-school, poor decision.

 

[InsideTheParker]

Game 1: Tonight, 5 p.m. ET/4 CT on TBS
https://www.mlb.com/news/braves-vs-cardinals-nlds-position-by-position
Video of the "infield fly rule" and position by position comparisons, above, for those of us who are ignorant (me) about the NL.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

I would be starting Dakota Hudson over Mikolas, not putting him in the bullpen.

 

[LynnRice75]

I love playoff baseball, but I am finding it hard to muster any interest or excitement in this series.
Both of these teams seem dull to me. Much more interested in the Dodgers/Nats.
Am I missing something that should heighten my interest in either the Cards or Braves?

 

[InsideTheParker]

I love playoff baseball, but I am finding it hard to muster any interest or excitement in this series.
Both of these teams seem dull to me. Much more interested in the Dodgers/Nats.
Am I missing something that should heighten my interest in either the Cards or Braves?

Some of the youngsters, like AcunaJr.,
Albie's, and Ozuna, interest me.

 

[LynnRice75]

Some of the youngsters, like AcunaJr.,
Albie's, and Ozuna, interest me.

Thanks. As an American League guy, I do not know any of them well. Guess I will get to know that them.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Thanks. As an American League guy, I do not know any of them well. Guess I will get to know that them.

Acuna is one of the best players in MLB

 

[InsideTheParker]

Also, the bunting by the pitcher contributing to the tying run was kind of neat, Keuchel starting great, cooling off, Ron Darling asking if a ground ball pitcher can get a strike out when needed (no), is all more interesting than one homer after another.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Why would you ever pinch hit with Cervelli in that spot?

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Snitker's rovering! Rovering dammit!

 

[bankshot1]

I think these are two of the best uniforms in the game.

Great match-up

 

[Sad Sam Jones]

There's nothing dull about the Braves... plenty of young talent and Freddie Freeman is one of the most underrated stars in the game. Unfortunately, their bullpen isn't "dull" either.

The only thing that makes the Cardinals interesting though is the smugness of their team and fanbase and the horseshoe that's perpetually stuck up their collective ass in the playoffs... it's kind of astonishing to see a break in a playoff game go against St. Louis, so I'm going to enjoy that one while I can.

 

[jon abbey]

The two teams are a combined 0-17 with RISP, I worry that if they de-juice the ball, this is the kind of ugly game we're in for too often.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Acuna showboating a double into a single.

 

[canderson]

Wong getting thrown out at a base will always make me smile.

 

[LynnRice75]

This is a pretty good game. I withdraw my non-interest post from upthread.

 

[InsideTheParker]

Melancon has had a long career, but every time I see him he is very ordinary.

 

[strek1]

Melancon has had a long career, but every time I see him he is very ordinary.

Agreed

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

2 out of 3 playoff games have been excellent so far

 

[LynnRice75]

Wong may be injured, but he sure seemed to be jogging toward second before the saw the ball land and picked up his pace.
Not sure why he was not running full speed with two outs.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Wong, Pham and Devers have a race ... who gets thrown out first?

 

[DeadlySplitter]

if the Braves blow this game, poor baserunning is a prime reason besides the shallow pen exposed on the injury.

 

[patinorange]

Now that was good base running. Faked him out.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Never heard that one from Cora last year “take the humble approach.”

 

[Al Zarilla]

Melancon has had a long career, but every time I see him he is very ordinary.

He was worse than ordinary for us.

 

[patinorange]

Melancon has had a long career, but every time I see him he is very ordinary.

Ordinary is kind.

 

[InsideTheParker]

Is Melancon their real closer or is he filling in for the real one who's injured?

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Melancon is horrible

 

[E5 Yaz]

Now that's the Mark Melancon we remember

 

[OurF'ingCity]

I know it’s game 1, but if I were a Braves fan I’d be pissed they left Melancon in so long - was obviously pretty quickly he didn’t have it tonight.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Review that?

 

[patinorange]

Review that?

Looked foul, but not reviewable. Not sure why not.

 

[jon abbey]

No love for the Cards, and I really like the young Braves, but I hope they never win another postseason game before ending that stupid-ass tomahawk chant.

 

[fiskful of dollars]

Can't review the flight of the ball over the bag interpretation.

 

[Leather]

Pfft.

 

[strek1]

I have no love for St Louis, but I utterly despite that stupid "Chop" chant. So if The Braves go down it's fine by moi

 

[jon abbey]

No love for the Cards, and I really like the young Braves, but I hope they never win another postseason game before ending that stupid-ass tomahawk chant.

I have no love for St Louis, but I utterly despite that stupid "Chop" chant. So if The Braves go down it's fine by moi

Great minds!

 

[jon abbey]

The Chris Martin injury totally flipped this game.

 

[jon abbey]

Acuna! This game went from awful to awesome in the last couple of innings.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Acuna is a damn beastmaster

 

[DeadlySplitter]

that Wong double literally just inside the line now really stings.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

That was a bomb

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

That was a bomb

That is what the guy does. He is a monster. You knew it was gone right off the bat.

 

[Al Zarilla]

No love for the Cards, and I really like the young Braves, but I hope they never win another postseason game before ending that stupid-ass tomahawk chant.

My wife was humming it for about 5 seconds, and then came to her senses and said “why do they do that?” I muted it.