STL-ATL: Lineups, matchups, FAQ

Four games just weren’t enough in this National League Division Series between the Cardinals and the Braves.

The Cardinals’ epic 10-inning walk-off victory on Monday in St. Louis forced the series back to Atlanta for a winner-take-all game today. It has been a back-and-forth series so far, and Game 5 looks to be no different.

The Cards took Game 1 behind a late-inning rally and a Braves bullpen meltdown, but Atlanta stormed back to win Games 2 and 3 and had St. Louis on the brink of elimination before Monday’s matchup. Each contest has been in doubt down to the final at-bat.

Game	Date	Result	Highlights
Gm 1	Oct. 3	STL 7, ATL 6	Watch
Gm 2	Oct. 4	ATL 3, STL 0	Watch
Gm 3	Oct. 6	ATL 3, STL 1	Watch
Gm 4	Oct. 7	STL 5, ATL 4 (10)	Watch
Gm 5	Oct. 9	STL 13, ATL 1	Watch

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"To be in front of our home fans on Wednesday, Game 5, that’s what it’s all about," Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman said. "We’ll be ready to go.”

In a rematch of Game 2, Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz will face Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty. Both shoved on Friday, but Foltynewicz was the winner with seven shutout innings.

If there was ever going to be a Game 5 between the Braves and the Cardinals, this is the pitching matchup you’d want to see. Foltynewicz produced a 1.73 ERA over his final seven regular-season starts. Flaherty was the only NL pitcher with a better ERA (0.96) during that span.

When is the game and how can I watch it?

Game 5 will be at 5:02 p.m. ET/4:02 p.m. CT today on TBS.

All games telecast on TBS and FOX will be available to MLB.TV subscribers who are authenticated subscribers to the applicable network through a participating pay TV provider.

What do the starting lineups look like?

Cardinals: The Cardinals have run with some variation of the same lineup this whole series, and won’t change now. They will be hoping that familiarity and patience pays off against Foltynewicz a second time.

1) Dexter Fowler, CF (S)
2) Kolten Wong, 2B (L)
3) Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4) Marcell Ozuna, LF
5) Yadier Molina, C
6) Matt Carpenter, 3B (L)
7) Tommy Edman, RF (S)
8) Paul DeJong, SS
9) Jack Flaherty, RHP

Braves: Manager Brian Snitker isn't sitting Nick Markakis, who is 3-for-17 in this series. But he will play Adam Duvall, who has come off the bench to record two big hits, including a two-run homer off Flaherty in Game 2. It was the second homer he has hit in five career at-bats against the Cardinals’ ace. Duvall replaces Matt Joyce, who produced an .871 OPS against right-handers during the regular season before going 1-for-9 thus far in this series. Duvall had a .761 OPS vs righties this season.

1) Ronald Acuña Jr., CF
2) Ozzie Albies, 2B (S)
3) Freddie Freeman, 1B (L)
4) Josh Donaldson, 3B
5) Nick Markakis, LF (L)
6) Adam Duvall, RF
7) Brian McCann, C (L)
8) Dansby Swanson, SS
9) Mike Foltynewicz, RHP

Who are the starting pitchers?

Cardinals: In a must-win game, there’s no one the Cardinals would rather turn to than Flaherty (0-1, 3.86 ERA), their 23-year-old ace who put together an 0.91 ERA in the second half. His Game 2 start on Friday came down to two pitches -- a first-inning two-seam fastball to Donaldson, who singled in Albies, and a seventh-inning four-seamer to Duvall, who crushed it for a two-run homer. Otherwise, Flaherty struck out eight in seven innings.

Braves: Foltynewicz (1-0, 0.00) proved he can be a big-game pitcher when he limited the Cardinals to three hits over seven scoreless innings in Game 2. He became the first Braves pitcher to throw at least seven innings of scoreless ball in a postseason game since Tom Glavine in Game 2 of the 2001 NLDS.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?

Cardinals: Carlos Martínez quelled some doubts about his closing ability after getting three big outs in the ninth inning of Monday’s game, despite allowing a leadoff double to Acuña. The Cardinals will once again go to him for a save today. Andrew Miller and Tyler Webb have both limited the Braves’ potent left-handers this series, while John Brebbia and Ryan Helsley have also impressed. Helsley struck out the side in the eighth on Monday, and he is stretched out to go more than one inning, too.

Braves: Closer Mark Melancon was not needed on Monday, so he will have two days of rest after being used in each of the first three games. The Braves chose not to use Max Fried on Monday, either, so he might be available for a potential multi-inning assignment. Shane Greene surrendered a couple of soft hits that led to a game-tying run in the eighth inning of Game 4. But he was otherwise impressive during his 1 2/3-inning effort, and he should team with Melancon and Fried to be the primary high-leverage options.

Are there any relievers who are unavailable?

Cardinals: With the off-day on Tuesday, all arms should be ready to go today in the winner-take-all game.

Braves: It will be all hands on deck in this must-win game. Though Michael Soroka would be the most likely Game 1 starter in the NL Championship Series, the Braves may have to alter that plan if there is a need to use Soroka to help close out this series.

Who is hot and who is not?

Cardinals: Of the 33 hits that the Cardinals have this series, Ozuna and Goldschmidt have 15 of them. They also have combined for seven doubles and four home runs. DeJong, on the other hand, is 2-for-14 this series. The All-Star shortstop, who knocked 30 home runs in the regular season, will need to beef up his postseason play if the Cards hope to move on from the NLDS.

Braves: Acuña has gone 8-for-16 with five extra-base hits, and Swanson is 7-for-14 with three doubles. On the flip side, Freeman has gone 2-for-16 and Donaldson is 2-for-15. Both of Donaldson’s hits have been key to Atlanta’s victories. But he and Freeman have lessened the value of Acuña’s production by combining to go 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.