St. Louis @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 23, 2013 ) St. Louis 2, Washington 0

Carlos Beltran turns 36 on Wednesday, but the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder is playing like he is just entering his prime. Beltran brings an eight-game hitting streak into Wednesday’s finale of a three-game series at Washington and is hitting .294 with four homers and 13 RBIs for the Cardinals. St. Louis has won four of its past six games and aims for a sweep of the struggling Nationals, who have dropped eight of their past 11 games.

Washington’s offense is struggling without third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who is on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. The Nationals have been shut out twice and have just 14 hits with 31 strikeouts in their past three games. Bryce Harper is the only Washington starter hitting above .273. The 20-year-old went 2-for-3 Wednesday, raising his average to .366.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (1-1, 3.22 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (1-3, 2.96).

Garcia started the season with three solid starts, holding Milwaukee to no runs in seven innings on April 14 and matching a career high with 10 strikeouts April 8 against Cincinnati. But Garcia struggled in his last start Friday at Philadelphia, allowing eight runs - four earned - on nine hits in three innings. The left-hander has 22 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings, helping to offset a WHIP of 1.57.

Three of Strasburg’s four starts have been good, but the Nationals have scored more than two runs just once in his outings. He surrendered two earned runs (four runs total) in six innings Friday against the Mets, allowing two home runs to lose his third consecutive decision. He did not pitch against St. Louis in last year’s NL Division Series, but struck out nine Cardinals in six shutout innings in one regular-season start.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis 1B Matt Adams missed his second consecutive game Tuesday with tightness in his right side.

2. The Nationals have one hit in their last 17 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

3. After Wednesday, the Cardinals have a day off before opening a six-game homestand with Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Washington hosts Cincinnati for four games before playing 17 of its next 22 away from home.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Cardinals 2