The Cardinals head into ASB reeling and wounded
Game Result
The teams played 3 games, broken up by 2 long rain delays. A key 2-RBI double by Contreras and another key 2-RBI HR by Fermin allowed the Cardinals to come back from an early 3-1 deficit. Graceffo, O’Brien and Helsley provided high-wire relief that in the end proved effective.
Pre-game Notes
- For the last month, Nolan Gorman has maintained a weighted xwOBA (over 100 PA) above league average. His batted ball metrics are improving after a poor start. Interested to see if it continues. xISO is 84th percentile over the whole season. I hope he continues to get PAs and see if he can sustain this run. ISO is something the Cardinals need a lot of improvement with.
- McGreevy got lit up for the second start in a row last night in Memphis. Bad timing for him.
- Hence to the IL.
- Weather will be a factor today.
Line-up (and roster) Machinations
- Braves will start a newcomer, 28-year-old Davis Daniel, a RHP. He is an Angels cast-off, if that tells you anything. This will be his 7th MLB career start.
- Gray for the Cardinals. Will the stopper stop the losing?
- The Cardinals bullpen is a bit depleted after two early exits by struggling starters. They do have some days off, so not a huge concern.
- In a pleasant surprise, Ivan Herrera’s name is written in the second spot in the line-up. Saggese at third, Fermin in LF, Gorman to be bench. Is Oli expecting a line of LHP relievers today?
- Nootbar to the IL.
The Game
An inning-by-inning breakdown, with score card entries and observations along the way. This format is one I usually reserve for day games during the week, with a bit more detail as I suspect people can’t readily listen or watch.
T1 – Gray starts out well (which, these days, is not giving up a leadoff HR). F8. K. 6-3.
B1 – Donovan P5. Herrera singles to center and promptly steals second. So much for lingering concerns about the leg. Burly walks. Contreras F8. Saggese K.
T2 – K. K. Pop out to C for a nice tidy inning for Gray.
B2 – Winn walks. Fermin lines out to third. Winn steals second. Pages K. Scott singles off the pitcher and Winns scores as the ball pinballs around. Scott promptly steals second. Donovan out 6-3. Cards up 1-0.
T3 – K. 6-3. Then three singles in a row plate a run for the Braves. Acuna K’s to end the uprising. Now tied 1-1.
B3 – Herrera walks. Then the skies opened up.
After just under 90 minutes, play resumed. Burly K. Contreras F8. Saggese with another K.
T4 – Matz in for Gray. Oli is going to have to get 6 IP out of a struggling bullpen. K. 4-3. F9. Still tied 1-1.
B4 – Winn K. Fermin F-8. Pages 6-3.
T5 – Inning leads off with a 6-3, then an infield single. K. Then a single to right. An ill-advised and poor throw from Burleson allows the trail runner to advance to second on the error. The ball almost ended up in the dugout. Olsen wins a 10-pitch AB by singling in 2 in the pouring rain. Now 3-1 Braves. And another rain delay.
Just over 90 minutes later, the game resumes. Graceffo in for Matz. He K’s Acuna to end the 5th. Still 3-1 Braves.
B5 – Chavez replaces Daniel, who probably set the record for the longest start, clockwise. Scott walks. Donovan F8. Burleson singles Scott to third. Contreras doubles both them in to tie the game. Saggese F9. Now tied 3-3.
T6 – HBP. K. K. 4-3. Graceffo very sharp.
B6 – Winn singles. Fermin with his first career homer, 2 runs. Pages K. Scott lines out to first. Donovan singles, but Herrera out 5-3. Cards now up 5-3.
T7 – Harris doubles. Allen advances him to third 4-3. Graceffo error allows Harris to score. O’Brien in. Pop out and an Acuna K ends the threat. Cards now up 5-4.
B7 – Burleson singles. Contreras K. Burleson steals second. Cards with a number of SB today. Saggese K (again). Winn K.
T8 – F9. 6-3. Single. Walk. K. Kind of quintessential inning for a high velo guy.
B8 – Fermin flies to left. Pages flies to right. Scott pops out to first.
T9 – Helsley in. He nibbles again. Walk. Oli ejected. Single. K. Fielder’s choice makes it first and third. 5-3 ends the threat. Cards win 5-4. Save for Hels.
Post-game Notes
- Play resumes next Friday at Arizona. 4+ days off will be good for everyone, I expect.
- During one of the rain delays, the Cardinals selected Liam Doyle, LHP from Tennessee with the #5 overall pick.
- I note that Alec Burleson has brought his O-swing% below 30% for the first time. He has cut his overall swing rate by 4.9%. He has cut his O-swing% by 4.7%, so almost all the swings he has cut out have been the result of not swinging at balls out of the zone. That is showing up in his batted ball metrics (synopsis: lots of red on Statcast). Interestingly, he has cut his 1st pitch swing rate by 6.6%. A patient Alec Burleson might turn into a dangerous hitter.