The Atlanta Braves may have one of the best pitching rotations in the league right now, but their bats are one of the worst units. The team is on a five-game slide thanks to a lack of hits and runs. Each starting pitcher has put together quality performances, but no run support has resulted in a lack of wins. Now, Aaron Harang heads to the mound in hopes of putting together another quality start as the Braves seeks a win against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Braves are coming off back-to-back sweeps after being held to just 11 runs in their last seven games. After starting the season, 17-7, the team is now 17-13 in the midst of a downward spiral. The team's stop hitters have not been swinging the bats. Freddie Freeman is 2 for 23 in the last six games. Evan Gattis is 2 for 21 in the past seven games.
Harang is on the same spiral as the Braves' hitters. After being essentially unhittable in his first five starts, he has allowed nine runs and 10 hits in his last game against the Miami Marlins. That is a drastic difference from the three runs and 15 hits he gave up five starts. Harang's history against the Cardinals does not bode well for a bounce back. He is 7-13 with a 4.37 ERA in 25 starts against the National League team.
Lucky for the Braves, the Cardinals have not looked much better recently. The team has dropped four of six games. They have not recorded back-to-back wins in an 18-game stretch. The team will put the ball in Shelby Miller's hand in hopes that he can earn his third straight win. In each of his starts this season, Miller has struggled. He has given up 21 walks in 34 innings. He has still be able to hold opponents to four runs or less in his last four games. Both the Braves and Cardinals are in need of a solid win and hope to kick off another win streak on Monday.
