St. Louis @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2018 ) Washington 5, St. Louis 4

The St. Louis Cardinals have followed a blistering-hot August with two setbacks in as many days to begin the final month of the regular season. The Cardinals, who are clinging to the second wild-card spot in the National League, aim to snap their modest slide on Monday afternoon when play the opener of a three-game series against St. Louis native Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals.

St. Louis' Harrison Bader, who has hit safely in 13 of his last 17 contests, joined Greg Garcia in driving in a pair of runs in Sunday's 6-4 setback in 10 innings against Cincinnati. Bader went 6-for-13 with a homer, three RBIs and four runs scored as the Cardinals captured the first three contests versus Washington before the latter responded to end St. Louis' season-high eight-game winning streak on Aug. 16. The Cardinals reside a half-game behind the top wild-card team Milwaukee, which benefited from a seven-run fifth inning to capture the rubber match of its series with the Nationals. Rookie Juan Soto recorded his sixth multi-hit performance in eight games in Sunday's 9-4 setback, although he is just 2-for-12 with four strikeouts versus the Cardinals this season.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Midwest (St. Louis), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (8-6, 2.87 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.22)

Flaherty improved to 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA in his last five starts on Tuesday after allowing one run on four hits in seven innings of a 5-2 triumph versus Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old, who did not walk a batter for the first time since May 31, saw his start pushed back as the Cardinals organization does its best to manage his workload that has spanned 155 innings (122 1/3 in the majors) this year. Flaherty will be making his 29th career appearance and first versus Washington.

Scherzer, who was outdueled by right-hander Aaron Nola in a battle of potential Cy Young Award contenders his last time out, yielded two homers in a season-low five innings of a no-decision against Philadelphia. The three-time Cy Young winner will receive an extra day of rest after manager Dave Martinez opted to shuffle Jefry Rodriguez into a spot start on Sunday. Matt Carpenter is 5-for-14 against Scherzer, but the 34-year-old right-hander has flustered Yadier Molina (1-for-11) in his career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington SS Wilmer Difo has seven hits -- including two homers -- to go along with five RBIs and six runs scored in his last seven games.

2. Cardinals 1B Jose Martinez, who has seven strikeouts in his last two contests, is 7-for-14 versus the Nationals in 2018.

3. Washington OF Bryce Harper is 7-for-17 with two homers against St. Louis this season.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Nationals 3