The Atlanta Braves return to action Tuesday night as they host the St. Louis Cardinals at Truist Park in the opening game of an important series. Fans across the Southeast will be able to watch the contest live through Gray Media’s regional broadcast network, which continues to expand free access to Braves baseball during the 2026 season.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m., with both clubs looking to build momentum as the regular season moves into a critical stretch.
Atlanta will hand the ball to veteran left-hander Martin Perez, who is expected to provide stability for a Braves rotation that has dealt with multiple injuries throughout the season. The Cardinals will counter with fellow southpaw Matthew Liberatore, setting up an intriguing lefty-versus-lefty pitching matchup.
The Braves’ lineup features a blend of established stars and emerging contributors. Drake Baldwin will serve as the designated hitter and lead off the offense, followed by Ozzie Albies at second base. Power-hitting first baseman Matt Olson occupies the heart of the order alongside center fielder Michael Harris II, while Mauricio Dubón, Eli White, Austin Riley, Joey Bart, and Jorge Mateo round out Atlanta’s starting nine.
St. Louis will counter with a youthful lineup highlighted by JJ Wetherholt at second base and catcher Iván Herrera hitting near the top of the order. The Cardinals will also rely on Jordan Walker, Nelson Velázquez, José Fermín, Masyn Winn, Lars Nootbaar, Blaze Jordan, and Nathan Church as they attempt to generate offense against Perez.
The Braves continue to battle a lengthy injury list that has significantly impacted both their lineup and pitching staff. Former National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while catcher Sean Murphy is recovering from a finger issue. On the mound, Atlanta is still without several key arms, including Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, Joe Jiménez, Danny Young, and recently placed reliever Robert Suarez, who landed on the injured list because of right elbow inflammation.
The Cardinals are also managing several absences. Right-handers Ryan Fernandez and Dustin May are unavailable, with May continuing to recover from a back injury, while infielder Ramón Urías remains out because of an elbow issue.
Tuesday’s contest is one of 25 Braves regular-season games being simulcast free over the air through Gray Media stations, allowing fans across 26 television markets throughout the Southeast to watch without requiring a cable subscription. The expanded broadcast partnership has made Braves baseball more accessible than ever across the region.
With both teams seeking valuable wins and Atlanta looking to overcome its injury challenges, Tuesday night’s matchup at Truist Park offers another important opportunity for the Braves to strengthen their position as the season progresses.
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