Washington @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2019 ) Washington 2, St. Louis 4

The Washington Nationals already didn't have much margin for error in regard to controlling their own destiny in the National League wild-card race, although their recent lackluster play might not have been their biggest concern in their last contest. Likely without manager Dave Martinez for a second straight game, the Nationals attempt to avoid their fourth loss in five contests Tuesday, when they continue their three-game series against the host St. Louis Cardinals.

Martinez did not travel with the team in order to undergo a heart procedure on Monday after experiencing chest pains during the previous day's win against Atlanta, leaving bench coach Chip Hale to run the team in his absence. Anthony Rendon slugged his 34th home run, but Washington was limited to four singles otherwise in the series opener, falling 4-2 as its lead over the Chicago Cubs for the first wild card was reduced to one-half game. St. Louis got its six-game homestand off on the wrong foot by dropping two of three to Milwaukee but took advantage of a big effort from Marcell Ozuna to maintain its two-game lead over the Cubs in the NL Central. Ozuna entered Monday batting .112 with three home runs in his last 17 games before belting a two-run homer in the first inning and adding a two-run double in the seventh.

TV: 7:45 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Patrick Corbin (12-7, 3.20 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (9-13, 4.28)

Corbin logged his NL-best 22nd quality start in Thursday's win at Minnesota after permitting three runs and nine hits over six innings. The two-time All-Star, who has been significantly worse on the road (5-5, 4.45 ERA) than at home (7-2, 2.00), did not issue a free pass against the Twins after walking nine batters over 11 frames in his previous two turns. Dexter Fowler (5-for-15, three RBIs) has enjoyed some success versus Corbin, who was tagged for six runs across five innings in a loss to St. Louis on April 29.

Mikolas extended his unbeaten streak to five starts following Thursday's victory in Colorado after giving up three runs - including two homers - and registering five strikeouts over five innings. Although he has limited the opposition to three runs or fewer in each of his last four outings, the 31-year-old still owns a 5.45 ERA over his last seven turns. Rendon is 3-for-6 with a double against Mikolas, who limited Washington to one run over six frames en route to victory on May 1.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cardinals (109) and Nationals (103) rank first and second, respectively, in the NL in stolen bases. Only one other NL team (Milwaukee - 97) has more than 85.

2. Washington is one home run shy of tying the franchise record for most in a season (215 in 2017).

3. St. Louis is 30-11 at home against the Nationals since Busch Stadium III opened in 2006.

PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Cardinals 3