After three consecutive games in which he performed about as poorly as is possible for a starting pitcher, the Cardinals will send Erick Fedde to the mound again.
Fedde and the Cardinals continue a series with the Braves at 1:15 p.m. Saturday at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals' bats went quiet late in dropping Friday night's opener.
The right-hander Fedde (3-9, 4.79 ERA), after two straight games giving up seven earned runs, wasn't allowed to get that far in his last start. He was pulled with one out in the second inning of a game in which he permitted three earned runs.
Manager Oliver Marmol on Thursday said there were other factors at play in choosing to start Fedde again after he put up a 15.30 ERA in his last three starts, games that the Cardinals lost by a combined score of 26-0.
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The Cardinals must also consider the July 31 trade deadline in sending Fedde to the mound Saturday, as Cardinals beat writer Derrick Goold wrote.
This season, Fedde's declining whiff rate has put him in the bottom 5% of baseball. Last season, he had just two games with a 12.8% or lower whiff rate. This season, he has had 10 such games.
On his sinker, his most-thrown pitch, the whiff rate has dropped from 20.2% last year to 10.1% this season.
Opponents are swinging at just 22.7% of his pitches outside the strike zone, dead last among qualified starters in baseball.
That has led to a ballooning walk rate (11%) and an MLB-worst strikeout to walk rate of 2.9%, far worse than the next lowest pitcher.
The Braves will start left-hander Aaron Bummer (1-2, 3.38 ERA) in an opener role. Bummer, in his only other 2025 start a week ago, threw 2 1/3 innings and a season-high 52 pitches.Â
Since Ivan Herrera went on the injured list June 20, the Cardinals are batting an MLB-worst .173 vs. left-handers.
Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado is out of the lineup after leaving Friday's game early with a finger sprain.
The Cardinals are 50-45, third in the National League Central and 5 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cubs.
The Braves are 41-52, fourth in the National League East.
Gordon Graceffo up from Triple-A, Matt Svanson down
Before the game, the Cardinals sent right-hander Matt Svanson down to Triple-A Memphis and recalled righty Gordon Graceffo.
Svanson (1-0, 3.12 ERA) pitched 2 2/3 innings of spotless relief Friday night. Graceffo (2-0, 6.62 ERA) has thrown 17 2/3 innings in the big leagues this season, all in relief.
How to watch Cardinals vs. Braves
When:Â 1:15 p.m. Saturday
Where:Â Busch Stadium in St. Louis
TV/radio: FanDuel ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Network Midwest (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .
Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Brendan Donovan, 2B
2. Masyn Winn, SS
3. Willson Contreras, 1B
4. Alec Burleson, RF
5. Yohel Pozo, C
6. Lars Nootbaar, LF
7. Thomas Saggese, 3B
8. Nolan Gorman, DH
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Erick Fedde, RHP
BRAVES
1. Jurickson Profar, LF
2. Matt Olson, 1B
3. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
4. Sean Murphy, C
5. Marcell Ozuna, DH
6. Ozzie Albies, 2B
7. Nacho Alvarez Jr., 3B
8. Michael Harris II, CF
9. Nick Allen, SS
P: Aaron Bummer, LHP
Injury report
Jordan Walker, OF (appendicitis): A wrist injury that also limited his playing time in June is part of the reason the Cardinals expect Walker to remain on his rehab assignment for a longer stretch than just proving his health. When Walker could be activated and rejoin the Cardinals is unclear as he continues to work on his timing at the plate and adjustments to his stance. Through July 10, he is hitting .172 (11 for 64) in nine rehab games with Triple-A Memphis and Double-A Springfield since he was placed on the injured list in late June. Updated July 11
Ivan Herrera, C/DH (left hamstring strain): Herrera began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis on Thursday. He was the team's designated hitter and went 1 for 3 with a single. He is not expected to catch during the rehab assignment. If he catches at all in the second half of the season, it will be limited after two leg injuries this season, manager Oliver Marmol said. Updated July 11
Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter has begun a throwing program designed to strengthen his arm after a long stretch without much activity. The shoulder has responded well and Thompson has felt progress with this program, which had to be restarted because his recovery stalled in May. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated June 19
