The Atlanta Braves continue to adjust their roster as the team aims to rebuild for most of the season. The team has been looking to dump off salary for younger arms and they did exactly just that on Friday when they sent Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson to the New York Mets in exchange for two young pitchers. Now they continue to face one of their National League rivals in the St. Louis Cardinals while facing the familiar Jason Heyward.
The Braves continue to struggle on the road and facing an offense like the Cardinals is certainly not going to help. They are also getting a look at what might have been as they face off against a former face of franchise in Heyward. The outfielder was a hometown kid that never lived up to the pressure originally placed on his shoulders when he homered in his first at bat in the major leagues. The Braves could simply not keep him and his $7.8 million contract on the roster after several trips to the disabled list and inconsistencies at the plate. Instead, the Braves went for pitching in Jordan Walden and Shelby Miller who will take the mound against his former team.
Miller was the only Braves player to make an All-Star appearance this season yet he did not see any game action. Miller has been one of the consistent arms for Atlanta, but he is lacking in the win column thanks to a lack of run support. With players like Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson now off the roster, it is a mystery as to how the Braves will get that production back. Freddie Freeman is expected to return from the disabled list, but that will only help so much for the team.
The Braves will be facing Carlos Martinez who is pitching for St. Louis His last start was not ideal as he went just four innings against the New York Mets while giving up five hits and two runs in that time. The Cardinals are currently sitting in first place in the National League Central division. They got a nice two-game sweep against the Chicago White Sox before facing the Braves and they are looking to keep the momentum going.
