Washington @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2012 ) St. Louis 3, Washington 4
The Washington Nationals have already secured a position berth, but a division title is what truly will get the party started. After taking two of three from Philadelphia, Washington will look to trim its magic number of three when it visits the Gateway City on Friday to begin a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals. Michael Morse homered twice and rookie Bryce Harper went deep for the second straight game as the Nationals posted a 7-3 triumph over the Phillies.
The victory helped the Nationals maintain their four-game lead over Atlanta with six to play. St. Louis, which has a magic number of four to claim the second wild card, has won seven of its last nine against National League cellar-dwellars Houston and Chicago. The competition becomes much stiffer with NL East leader Washington and Central champion Cincinnati left on the schedule.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FSMW (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (9-10, 3.77 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (13-13, 4.02)
Jackson posted his first win in six career appearances versus his former team after striking out 10 in eight sizzling innings in an 8-1 triumph on Aug. 30. The 29-year-old, however, has tasted victory just once more since that outing. Jackson pitched well in his last trip to the mound, striking out six in eight innings - but settled for a no-decision in his team's 4-2 loss to Milwaukee last Friday.
Wainwright will vie for his first win since Aug. 26 when he takes the mound on Friday. The 31-year-old began his three-game losing skid with a dreadful outing versus Washington. Wainwright was touched for six runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings in a 10-0 throttling on Aug. 31. He is 3-3 in his career versus the Nationals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington third base coach Bo Porter will become the new manager of the Houston Astros. Porter, who is a Houston native, will begin his new role as soon as the Nationals' season has concluded.
2. St. Louis' Carlos Beltran finished the road trip with just three hits in 20 at-bats. The slugger is just 1-for-6 versus Beltran in his career.
3. Nationals OF Jayson Werth has had the Cardinals' number as of late, collecting three homers and eight RBIs in his last nine contests. He is just 4-for-13 versus Wainwright, however.