St. Louis @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2018 ) St. Louis 11, Washington 8

The St. Louis Cardinals turned up the power Tuesday to halt their three-game slide and hope to begin a winning streak when they visit the Washington Nationals one day later for the rubber match of their three-game set. Marcell Ozuna belted two of St. Louis' five homers as the club outlasted Washington 11-8 to even the series.

Yadier Molina provided some much-needed insurance with a grand slam in the ninth inning as the Cardinals remained 1 1/2 games behind National League Central rival Milwaukee for the first wild-card spot. Ozuna is two blasts away from reaching the 20-homer plateau for the third consecutive season and the fourth in his six-year career. Washington's slim postseason hopes took a hit with Tuesday's loss, as it remained 7 1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East and fell eight in back of St. Louis for the second wild card. Wilmer Difo went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in the setback as the Nationals dropped to 2-3 on their 10-game homestand.

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 Tanner Roark (8-14, 4.03)

Mikolas' unbeaten streak ended at 10 starts last Wednesday, when he lost to Pittsburgh despite giving up just two runs over five innings. The 30-year-old Floridian recorded five victories during his string of success, allowing fewer than three runs on seven occasions. Mikolas lost at Washington in a relief outing on May 14, 2012 while with San Diego and didn't face the club again until Aug. 13, when he yielded four runs and four hits - two homers - over seven innings in a no-decision.

After winning five straight decisions, Roark has lost back-to-back starts - including a setback against Milwaukee on Friday in which he surrendered four runs and six hits - three homers - over six innings. The 31-year-old native of Illinois has worked at least six frames in seven of his last eight turns, with the only exception coming on Aug. 21 versus Philadelphia due to a rain delay. Roark evened his record at 2-2 in six career appearances (four starts) against the Cardinals on Aug. 16, when he notched the win despite yielding four runs on five hits and three walks across six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals OF Bryce Harper has reached base safely in eight of his 11 plate appearances over the first two games of the series, going 2-for-4 with six walks and five RBIs.

2. Washington activated RHPs Erick Fedde (shoulder) and Joe Ross (elbow) from the 60-day disabled list, recalled OF Victor Robles, INF Adrian Sanchez and RHP Austin Voth from Triple-A Syracuse and purchased the contract of RHP Kyle McGowin from the Chiefs.

3. St. Louis 2B Kolten Wong (hamstring) is expected to be activated from the DL on Wednesday but may not play until Friday in Detroit.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Nationals 2