Washington @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 23, 2015 ) St. Louis 4, Washington 1

For the better part of this season, it seemed likely that a late summer series between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals could serve as a possible postseason showdown. The Cardinals have more than held up their end of the deal, but the Nationals find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in as they visit St. Louis to begin a three-game series against the team with the best record in the majors.

Washington spent most of June and July atop the National League East and even held a small lead in early August, but quickly watched as a two-game edge on the New York Mets grew into a 6 ½-game deficit. The Nationals have won six of eight to recover from a 2-8 stretch, but find themselves 5 ½ games back of the Mets in the division and eight games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second wild-card spot. St. Louis (84-46) returns home after winning of seven of its final eight during a 10-game West Coast swing to move 37 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2005 campaign. The Cardinals took two of three in Washington when these teams met in late April as Kolten Wong went 6-for-12 with a three-run homer in the series.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FSN Midwest

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (9-7, 4.11 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH John Lackey (11-8, 2.92)
Gonzalez was roughed up for a third straight turn on Thursday versus San Diego, giving up five runs (four earned) across 4 2/3 innings in a 6-5 setback. Since working eight scoreless frames in a win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 10, the two-time All-Star is 0-3 with a 10.22 ERA in three outings, surrendering at least four earned runs each time. Gonzalez, who worked six scoreless innings in a no-decision versus St. Louis on April 21, is 2-1 with a 0.93 ERA in four starts against the Cardinals.
Lackey returned to form in a win on Wednesday after an uncharacteristic poor showing at San Diego five days earlier, allowing one run on seven hits over as many innings. The 36-year-old Texas native has logged at least six frames in 14 consecutive turns, allowing two or fewer runs in 12 of those outings while posting a 2.30 ERA over that span. Lackey gave up five runs in 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision at Washington on April 22, but is 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA in three starts versus the Nationals.

WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis LF Stephen Piscotty went 7-for-12 in the Cardinals’ weekend series against the San Francisco Giants and is batting .464 during a seven-game hitting streak.
2. Nationals 2B/3B Anthony Rendon is batting .419 with two homers, seven RBIs and eight runs scored during an eight-game hitting streak.
3. Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal will rejoin the team after missing the last series to attend the birth of his daughter.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Nationals 2