ST. LOUIS vs. ATLANTA

Today: Atlanta (Maddux 19-9) at St. Louis (Ankiel 11-7), 10 a.m., ESPN

Thursday: Atlanta (Glavine 21-9) at St. Louis (Kile 20-9), 1 p.m., ESPN

Saturday: St. Louis (Stephenson 16-9, An. Benes 12-9 or Hentgen 15-12) at Atlanta (Ashby 12-13), TBA

* Sunday: St. Louis at Atlanta, TBA

* Monday: Atlanta at St. Louis. TBA

* If necessary All times PDT

ATLANTA AT A GLANCE

Lineup

*--*

Po Player HR RBI Avg. SS Rafael Furcal 4 37 .295 CF Andruw Jones 36 104 .303 3B Chipper Jones 36 111 .311 1B Andres Galarraga 28 100 .302 C Javier Lopez 24 89 .287 LF Reggie Sanders 11 37 .229 RF Brian Jordan 17 77 .264 2B Walt Weiss 0 18 .260 P Greg Maddux 19-9, 3.00 ERA

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Analysis: The Cardinals’ decision to switch to left-handed starter Rick Ankiel in the first game could benefit the Braves, since they had a 21-14 record against left-handed starters and batted .314 against left-handers compared with their overall mark of .271. The emergence of rookie-of-the-year candidate Furcal at the top of the order enhances Atlanta’s speed dimension, although the Braves lost some offense when Quilvio Veras was sidelined because of a knee injury, forcing Manager Bobby Cox to choose between Weiss and Keith Lockhart at second base and putting the inexperienced Furcal in the Veras leadoff role. The lineup includes three players--the two Joneses and Galarraga--who have driven in 100 or more runs, but Lopez and Jordan have struggled at times, and there has been a real problem in left field, with Sanders mired below the Mendoza line until surging some in September and midseason acquisition B.J. Surhoff remains troubled by a leg injury.

* Key reserves: IF Lockhart (2 HR, 32 RBI, .265), 1B Wally Joyner (5, 32, .281), OF Surhoff (1, 11, .289).

* Team batting: .271 (5th in NL)

* Team pitching: 4.05 ERA (1st)

ST. LOUIS AT A GLANCE

Lineup

*--*

Po Player HR RBI Avg. 2B Fernando Vina 4 31 .300 RF J.D. Drew 18 57 .295 CF Jim Edmonds 42 108 .295 1B Will Clark 12 42 .345 3B Fernando Tatis 18 64 .253 LF Ray Lankford 26 65 .253 SS Edgar Renteria 16 76 .278 C C. Hernandez 3 35 .256 P Rick Ankiel 11-7, 3.50 ERA

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Analysis: The Cardinals won 20 of their final 29 games despite the reduced role of Mark McGwire and a late-season slump by Tatis, who may be replaced today by Placido Polanco. The Cardinals took advantage of extraordinary depth and the trade-deadline acquisition of Clark to finish fourth in the league in runs and second in homers despite the loss of McGwire in July and other key injuries. Ex-Angel Edmonds had an MVP caliber season with 42 homers and 108 RBIs, compensating for a down year by outfield colleague Lankford. The midseason acquisition of Carlos Hernandez from San Diego has proved providential with the recent injury to starting catcher Mike Matheny that knocked him out of the playoffs. McGwire remains troubled by tendinitis in his right knee, and will be restricted to pinch-hitting. It remains uncertain how valuable he can be in a pinch-hitting role, as he’s likely to be pitched around, forcing Manager Tony La Russa to use a pinch runner, eating up his bench.

* Key reserves: McGwire (32 HR, 73 RBI, .303), Craig Paquette (15, 61, .245), Polanco (5, 39, .316), Eric Davis (6, 40, .303).

* Team batting: .270 (6th in NL)

* Team pitching: 4.38 ERA (7th)

KEYS TO THE SERIES

The course of it could be determined today, with Ankiel’s ability to handle playoff pressure. The Cardinals are counting on the rookie and Darryl Kile to come up big amid concerns over the elbow condition that has troubled Garrett Stephenson and the hammering Pat Hentgen took in his last two starts. The Braves, as usual, led the league in pitching but will have to have Andy Ashby and/or Kevin Millwood shake their inconsistency. The Braves also need John Rocker to shake off the three-run homer he yielded to Todd Helton on Sunday in the loss that cost Atlanta home-field advantage. The Braves are playoff tested and should shake off that loss.

* Records: Braves 95-67, Cardinals 95-67

* Head to Head: Cardinals, 4-3.