Cardinals at Nationals
The St. Louis Cardinals will leave their majors-best 12-4 home record in their rear view mirror on Monday when they embark on a seven-game road trip with the first of four against the Washington Nationals. Yadier Molina will look to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games in the opener while the surging Cardinals vie for their eighth win in nine outings.
Molina, who drove in three runs in Sunday's 5-2 victory over Cincinnati, is 20-for-61 with 18 RBIs with seven runs scored during his hitting streak. The 36-year-old Molina isn't the only St. Louis standout to enter Monday's tilt with a pronounced streak as Kolten Wong has reached base to a career high-tying 15 consecutive contests. While the Cardinals have been sizzling at home, the Nationals averted a three-game sweep to open their seven-game homestand after Matt Adams hit a walk-off homer to begin the bottom of the 11th inning in Sunday's 7-6 win over San Diego. Juan Soto has gone deep in three of his last four contests and carries a six-game hitting streak into the opener of the series versus St. Louis.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (1-0, 4.64 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Patrick Corbin (2-0, 2.48)
Wacha recorded a quality start against Milwaukee on April 17 before landing on the 10-day injured list and missing one start because of left knee tendinitis. Injuries are nothing new for the 27-year-old, who has been sidelined four times in six years - including last season when a strained oblique kept him from pitching after June 20. Wacha owns a 3-2 mark with a 1.30 ERA and 0.72 WHIP in five career starts against Washington, although Howie Kendrick (9-for-13) and Anthony Rendon (3-for-10) have experienced some success versus the hurler.
Corbin recorded his second straight win on Tuesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in six innings of a 6-3 victory at Colorado. The 29-year-old, who has logged a quality start in each of his outings, also helped his cause with a key base hit as part of a four-run third inning. Marcell Ozuna (3-for-16, six strikeouts) and Molina (2-for-11) have struggled against Corbin, who boasts a 1-1 mark with a 3.90 ERA in five career starts against St. Louis.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington OF Adam Eaton is 0-for-5 on the heels of an 11-game hitting streak.
2. St. Louis OF Jose Martinez has reached base in 17 of 34 appearances in his last nine contests.
3. Nationals SS Carter Kieboom has homered twice in three games since being recalled from Triple-A Fresno.