St. Louis @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2018 ) St. Louis 3, Washington 4
The Washington Nationals are in the midst of a stretch of 19 consecutive games against National League playoff contenders, so even if they can’t get back in the race, they have a prime opportunity to make an impact. The Nationals will try to play spoiler again Tuesday when they host the St. Louis Cardinals in the second of a three-game series.
The Nationals won the series opener 4-3 but remain seven games behind the Cardinals for the second NL wild card and 7 1/2 back of Atlanta in the NL East. Bryce Harper ended a drought of 61 at-bats without a homer with a game-tying two-run blast in the ninth inning Monday, then won it with a sacrifice fly in the 10th. The Cardinals have dropped three straight to fall 5 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central, but they remain a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies for the final playoff spot. St. Louis is 29-16 since manager Mike Shildt took over for Mike Matheny on July 15.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (13-4, 2.96 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Erick Fedde (1-3, 5.79)
Mikolas is coming off his first loss since June 29 after allowing two runs over five innings in a 2-0 defeat against Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The 30-year-old has only one quality start in his last four outings after a string of three straight prior to that stretch. Mikolas faced the Nationals on Aug. 13 and allowed four runs over seven innings in a no-decision.
Fedde is set to come off the disabled list and make his first big-league start since July 4. The 25-year-old made three rehab starts in the minors, allowing four runs over 14 2/3 innings. Fedde is 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in six career starts at Nationals Park.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals INF Matt Carpenter has 23 home runs on the road this season, tied with Stan Musial for the most by a left-handed hitter in franchise history.
2. The Nationals are expected to activate RHP Joe Ross and recall OF Victor Robles, their top prospect, as soon as Tuesday.
3. Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright is expected to return to the rotation Monday against Pittsburgh after being sidelined since May 17 with right elbow inflammation.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Nationals 3