The Cardinals’ series against the Braves is an important test

The Cardinals have once again found a way to win games and bounce back after a punch in the face.

The series loss in Miami was certainly disheartening, and the Cardinals had to bounce back over the weekend against the Giants. It’s safe to say they rebounded in a big way, winning three games.

What impressed me most about this series was how the Cardinals responded almost immediately when they were hit with a blow. I was a little worried after they fell behind early on Saturday, but they fought back and ultimately won the game.

And yesterday, with their lead down from 4-0 to 4-3, Brandon Crawford hit a huge shot to make it 5-3 and give the Cardinals some much-needed reassurance before Ryan Helsley sealed the deal and secured the sweep.

Now they have a big test ahead of them. The Braves are in town and playing good baseball. They just won two of three games against the Yankees.

While the Braves haven’t been the dominant force this year that they have been in recent seasons, they still can’t be taken for granted. As things stand today, the Braves and Cardinals hold the top two wild card spots in the National League.

If the Cardinals make the playoffs, they will have to play against these types of teams. These teams have strong starting pitchers who can be trusted in important games.

The Cardinals already had a big test with the Phillies earlier this month. They lost two of three games in that set, but managed to secure a narrow victory in the finale. Now it’s time for the next test.

The Braves are a little banged up with Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. both out for the rest of the season. Those are key players that will be missing while the Cardinals get Willson Contreras back.

But the offense remains inconsistent, and in the final two games of the series they’ll have to face Reynaldo Lopez, who has the best ERA in all of baseball, and a resurgent Chris Sale. The Braves are still a team that can’t be taken for granted, even without some of their best players.

This is another great opportunity for the Cardinals to prove they are a serious contender. A series win over the Braves, even with Atlanta a little banged up, would be a huge confidence boost for this team.