Last Updated on August 6, 2016 5:24 pm by Brad Burns
Braves face stern test from Martinez, Cards
Pitching performances don’t get much better than what Jaime Garcia brought to the table Friday. If anyone’s capable of upping the ante, however, it could be Carlos Martinez.
The Cardinals send their superb righty to the hill for tonight’s middle contest against Atlanta. Online sports book BetDSI gives St. Louis odds of -260 to emerge victorious, while the Braves are considered +220 underdogs. The over/under run figure sits at 8.5.
Garcia tossed eight shutout frames in the host Redbirds’ series-opening triumph, fanning 11 and walking just one. Martinez hopes to author a comparable gem shortly. The 24-year-old downed Brian Snitker’s squad in April, throwing six innings of two-run ball.
Atlanta counters with Roberto Hernandez, who used to play under the name Fausto Carmona. Any way you slice it, though, the veteran hurler’s making an emergency start. The Braves’ injury-riddled rotation has forced Snitker to rely on the man with a 4.60 ERA in 16 International League outings between Buffalo and Gwinnett.
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Joel De La Cruz did record 16 outs roughly 18 hours ago. Nonetheless, this shapes up as a complete and utter disaster for the visitors. Unless center fielder Ender Inciarte, he of the 16-game hitting streak, can flummox Martinez in the early going, expect a rout at Busch Stadium.
SATURDAY MLB FREE PICK: CARDINALS -1.5