Washington @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 14, 2018 ) Washington 4, St. Louis 6

The St. Louis Cardinals look to stretch the longest active winning streak in the major leagues to a season-best eight games when they host the slumping Washington Nationals on Wednesday for the third contest of their four-game series. The Cardinals notched a 6-4 victory on Tuesday to improve to 18-9 since interim manager Mike Shildt took over for the fired Mike Matheny.

Kolten Wong went 3-for-3 with a homer and pitcher John Gant added a two-run blast for his first career hit as St. Louis moved within four games of the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs and one of Philadelphia for the NL's second wild card. The Cardinals have scored six or more runs in six straight games and outscored their opponents 46-18 during the seven-game winning streak. The disappointing Nationals have dropped three straight and six of eight contests to fall eight games behind NL East-leading Atlanta. Bryce Harper homered for the second consecutive contest on Tuesday to reach 30 for the second time in his career while Daniel Murphy and Matt Wieters each went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jeremy Hellickson (5-2, 3.54 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Austin Gomber (2-0, 3.45)

Hellickson settled for an odd no-decision against the Cubs in his last turn as he worked 5 2/3 hitless innings but allowed two runs on four walks. The 31-year-old has gone 3-1 over his last six outings, giving up fewer than three runs on four occasions during that stretch. Hellickson is 2-2 with a 4.13 ERA in five career starts against St. Louis.

Gomber recorded his first win in three major-league starts in his last turn as he blanked Kansas City on four hits over five innings. The 24-year-old lasted just four frames in his previous outing as he gave up four runs and seven hits over four frames against Pittsburgh. Gomber will be starting at home for the first time as he has gone 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA in 12 relief appearances at Busch Stadium.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals 1B Matt Carpenter was hitless in four at-bats on Tuesday but drew a walk to extend his streak of reaching base to 32 games.

2. Washington placed RHP Ryan Madson (back) on the 10-day disabled list, optioned LHP Sammy Solis to Triple-A Syracuse, recalled RHP Trevor Gott and LHP Tim Collins from the same affiliate and transferred RHP Erick Fedde to the 60-day DL.

3. St. Louis activated Tyler O'Neill (groin) from the 10-day DL and optioned fellow OF Adolis Garcia to Triple-A Memphis.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 7, Nationals 0