Washington @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2019 ) Washington 6, St. Louis 2

The Washington Nationals look to give themselves more of a cushion in the race for a National League wild-card spot when they visit the St. Louis Cardinals for the rubber match of a three-game series Wednesday afternoon. The Nationals pounded out 12 hits to earn a 6-2 victory Tuesday, extending their lead to 1 1/2 games over the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee for the top wild card.

Howie Kendrick on Tuesday had three hits, including a solo homer, and is 6-for-8 with two blasts, four RBIs and four runs scored in his last two games for Washington, which was without manager Dave Martinez after the 54-year-old underwent a diagnostic cardiac procedure Monday. The Nationals hand the ball to three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer on Wednesday and St. Louis counters with fellow veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright, who hopes to continue his strong work in September. The Cardinals have lost five of their last eight contests, but maintained their lead in the NL Central over the Cubs and Brewers at two games with 11 outings apiece to play. Paul Goldschmidt doubled in the first inning Tuesday to snap an 0-for-9 slide and teammate Yadier Molina had a pair of hits after going 2-for-24 over the previous seven contests for St. Louis, which has won four of six against Washington this year.

TV: 1:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Washington), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (10-6, 2.65 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (12-9, 4.00)

Scherzer has managed one victory since returning from nearly a month absence because of back issues, going 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA in five outings. The 35-year-old Missouri native gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts over five innings of a 5-0 loss to Atlanta on Friday in his last start. Marcell Ozuna is 10-for-33 with five doubles and two homers versus Scherzer, who is 2-5 with a 2.95 ERA in 10 career starts against St. Louis.

Wainwright has been dominant this month in his three starts, allowing one run on 12 hits and four walks combined over 20 innings with three victories and a .174 opponents’ batting average. The 38-year-old Georgia native is 8-3 with a 2.26 ERA in 14 home starts this year as opposed to 4-6 with a 6.03 mark on the road. Adam Eaton is 5-for-7 with a double and a homer against Wainwright, who beat Washington with 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball April 30.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cardinals stole two bases to push their NL-leading total to 110 and the second-place Nationals had four Tuesday to close within three.

2. St. Louis 2B Kolten Wong is hitless in 11 at-bats over the last three games after going 7-for-12 in the previous three.

3. Washington CF Victor Robles is 10-for-19 with three doubles and four RBIs during his six-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Cardinals 2