UPDATE: Due to persisting poor and rain weather in the Truist Park area, Friday night's game between the Cardinals and Atlanta Braves has been postponed. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader Saturday. The first game will be at 12:07 p.m. Ƶ time with the night half set to begin at 6:20 p.m. Ƶ time, its originally scheduled time.
Kyle Gibson will face Charlie Morton in the early game. Sonny Gray, Friday's planned starter, will face Bryce Elder in the nightcap.
Below is Friday's game preview as it appeared before the rainout.
After four days off for the All-Star break, the Cardinals resume the season with a road series starting Friday against the Braves. First pitch was set for 6:20 p.m. Ƶ time but began with a rain delay.
A new start time has not yet been announced.
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It's a battle of two of the three current National League wild-card teams, if the season ended today.
Right-hander Sonny Gray (9-6, 3.34) will take the mound for the Cardinals.
Gray has a 6.06 ERA over his last three starts, but his last start before the break was quality. He gave up three earned runs in seven innings vs. the Cubs.
The Braves will counter with right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (3-4, 4.43).
The rookie will be making his ninth career appearance, one of which came last month at Busch, when he permitted four earned runs in five innings and picked up the loss.
The Cardinals are 50-46, second in the NL Central and 4 1/2 games out of first. Ƶ, which holds the second wild card spot, went 2-6 on its homestand that ended Sunday.
The Braves are 53-42, second in the NL East and now hold the first wild-card spot. After a strong start, the Braves are are just 34-33 since the start of May.
Ƶ took two of three from Atlanta last month at Busch Stadium in typical Ƶ fashion, a pair of one-run Cardinals wins sandwiched around a 6-2 Atlanta victory.
Atlanta's 3.26 home ERA is third-best in baseball.
Former Cardinal Marcell Ozuna, who will serve as the Braves' designated hitter Friday, leads the NL with 77 RBIs and is second with 26 home runs. His .960 OPS is third-best in the league.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Masyn Winn, SS
2. Alec Burleson, DH
3. Willson Contreras, C
4. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
5. Brendan Donovan, LF
6. Nolan Arenado, 3B
7. Lars Nootbaar, RF
8. Nolan Gorman, 2B
9. Michael Siani, CF
P: Sonny Gray, RHP
BRAVES
1. Jarred Kelenic, CF
2. Ozzie Albies, 2B
3. Austin Riley, 3B
4. Matt Olson, 1B
5. Marcell Ozuna, DH
6. Travis d'Arnaud, C
7. Eddie Rosario, LF
8. Adam Duvall, RF
9. Orlando Arcia, SS
P: Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP
Injury report
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery): Switch-hitter had a setback over the All-Star break when a pain in his ankle resurfaced and prompted additional treatment. Edman received an anti-inflammatory injection to calm the swelling. He was prescribed rest and will resume his rehab assignment Tuesday. Edman has not yet appeared in the majors this season due to offseason wrist surgery, and internally the Cardinals have been targeting a return after the All-Star break. Updated July 19
Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon): Reliever will continue his rehab assignment Saturday with Class AAA Memphis. O'Brien was slated to pitch for Double-A Springfield on June 18, however he had trouble bouncing back from his last outing. O'Brien was sent for an MRI, which came back clean. Updated July 19
Steven Matz (lower back stiffness): Matz will throw his second bullpen session Saturday after resuming his throwing program. That puts him one step closer to a live batting practice session. He is doing his workouts at Busch Stadium. Matz experienced a setback in his rehab process that prevented him from throwing for two weeks. He experienced lingering soreness the morning following a June rehab outing, leading to a lengthy setback. Matz is looking toward an August return, if possible, though his role is to be determined based on the Cardinals' moves at the trade deadline. Updated July 19