Cardinals Host Braves to Close Three-Game Series

The St. Louis Cardinals will host the Atlanta Braves on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series that closes the first half of the regular season.

They trail the Miami Marlins by one game for the final National League wild-card spot. Right-hander Dustin May will start for St. Louis. He carries a 5-6 record and 4.55 ERA. May last completed five innings on June 15, when he threw a complete-game one-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres.

In his most recent outing, he allowed four hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. "It was good to get out there and not (stink), so that definitely felt good," May said. " Manager Oliver Marmol noted the outing as a positive step.

"It was good to see him back out there and feeling healthy," Marmol said. "Everything was where you'd want it to be. " May is 0-2 with an 8.78 ERA in four career appearances against the Braves. He lasted two-thirds of an inning in his most recent matchup on July 2, allowing five runs.

The Braves have scored two runs across the first two games of the series and lost 4-1 on July 11. They have dropped five of their last seven contests. He holds a 1-2 record and 4.60 ERA.

Ritchie pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief on July 9, allowing one run. Atlanta optioned right-hander Hurston Waldrep to Triple-A Gwinnett on July 10.