WATCH: Travis d'Arnaud launches a two-run bomb in the bottom of the 7th

The Braves now lead the Cardinals 8-3.

The Braves are digging the long ball tonight.

Travis d’Arnaud launched his eleventh home run of the season tonight. It was a two-run blast to right-center into the Braves bullpen. The Braves have ten hits so far this evening, five of which have been home runs.

d'Arnaud way this one's coming back 😏#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/mh5qt3BBa1

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 8, 2023

With the fifth home run of the night, the Braves now have 270 home runs on the season. They have moved into fifth place all-time for team home runs in a season. Minnesota holds the record with 307 set in 2019.

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Lineup for the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, September 7th

Here's how the Braves will line up for the finale:

Atlanta's begun giving rest to the regulars, with ironman Austin Riley getting his first day off of the season. Nicky Lopez enters the lineup, batting 9th and playing 3rd base, which shifts hitters around somewhat to fill Riley's traditional #3 spot in the order. Travis d'Arnaud rotates in behind the plate, batting 6th.

Pitching Matchup for the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, September 7th

Atlanta's sending ace Max Fried to the mound tonight. 6-1 with a 2.52 ERA on the season, Fried's missing some of the typical mileage on his arm thanks to a two and half month-long stint on the injured list for a forearm strain. The lefty is 4-0 with a 0.34 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against Fried, striking out twenty-nine and allowing only one run on fifteen hits and eight walks in 26.2 career innings. Only six current Cardinals have ever faced Fried, and only one, 3B Nolan Arenado, has taken him deep, batting 3-16 with one homer and two RBIs.

Opposing the Braves is veteran Adam Wainwright. The Brunswick, GA native is 3-10 with a 8.10 ERA in his 18 starts this season for the Cardinals. Desperately looking for two more wins to get to an even 200 in his career before his expected retirement this offseason, Wainwright's hoping to recapture his old magic against the team that drafted him - he was Atlanta's first round pick, 29th overall, in 2000. Traded away in 2003 for JD Drew and Eli Marrero, Wainwright's seemingly held a bit of a grudge against the Braves, with a lifetime 10-4 record and 3.42 ERA in 21 appearances (16 starts) against the team he grew up watching as a kid.

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How to Watch the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, September 7th

Tonight's series finale is a 7:20 PM ET first pitch from Truist Park. The TV broadcast is on Bally Sports South throughout Braves Country and MLB.tv nationally. The radio call is available in the Atlanta metro area on 680 The Fan, across the Southeast on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network, and nationally on MLB.tv.

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