Los Angeles @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2018 ) LA Dodgers 9, St. Louis 7

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the series opener and look to pull even for the National League's second wild-card spot when they visit the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Los Angeles won a 9-7 slugfest on Thursday to put the heat on the Cardinals and remain 1 1/2 games behind first-place Colorado in the NL West.

Manny Machado went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs in Thursday's victory, with the blast being his first since Aug. 30. The Dodgers are 4-3 on their 10-game road trip and have scored eight or more runs in three of the victories. The Cardinals, who trail Milwaukee by three games for the first wild card and are 4 1/2 behind the Chicago Cubs for first in the NL Central, are just 5-7 this month after going 22-6 in August. Catcher Yadier Molina (hamstring) returned to the lineup after a six-game absence and went 0-for-1 with a walk before leaving after four innings with St. Louis trailing 8-1.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Walker Buehler (6-5, 3.09 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (8-6, 2.92)

Buehler lost to the Rockies in his last turn as he gave up four runs and six hits over six innings. The 24-year-old is 3-2 with a 4.07 ERA in nine road starts compared to a solid 2.32 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) at home. Buehler allowed three hits and registered nine strikeouts over seven scoreless frames in a no-decision against the Cardinals on Aug. 22, when he was matched up against Flaherty.

Flaherty is 4-0 over his last seven starts and has allowed fewer than two runs in five of those outings. The 22-year-old settled for a no-decision in his last turn as he gave up three runs and four hits in five innings against Detroit. Flaherty registered 10 strikeouts while giving up just one hit - a solo homer by Joc Pederson -over six innings in the recent no-decision against the Dodgers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals RF Marcell Ozuna recorded two hits and two RBIs on Thursday and is 16-for-39 with five homers and 13 RBIs during his nine-game hitting streak.

2. Los Angeles RF Matt Kemp notched two hits in the series opener and is 5-for-13 with three RBIs over his last three contests.

3. St. Louis 3B Jedd Gyorko (groin) went 1-for-5 with an RBI on Thursday in his first start since Aug. 28.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2