Cardinals at Phillies
Aaron Nola was able to overcome an early rough patch to pick up steam over his last six starts, winning three of his last four to remain undefeated on the season. The right-hander looks to send the Philadelphia Phillies to their ninth win in 12 outings on Wednesday when the play the second contest of a three-game series versus the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.
Cesar Hernandez belted a go-ahead two-run homer in Tuesday's 4-3 victory, improving Philadelphia to 19-10 at home and 3-1 versus St. Louis this season. The 29-year-old has helped in both causes, as he is 29-for-96 at Citizens Bank Park and 6-for-13 with two homers, six RBIs and three runs scored against the Cardinals. Paul Goldschmidt is starting to heat up with nine hits in his last six games, including his solo homer in the first inning on Tuesday. St. Louis, however, mustered just four hits in the series opener to lose for the 17th time in its last 23 contests and fall one game under .500 for the first time since April 7.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals LH Genesis Cabrera (major league debut) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (5-0, 4.53)
Cabrera will be summoned from Triple-A Memphis to take the place of right-hander Michael Wacha, who was demoted to the bullpen after allowing seven runs for the second time this season in his last start. The 22-year-old Cabrera has posted a 6.35 ERA in nine appearances (seven starts) with the Redbirds, although he has allowed two earned runs over six innings in each of his last two outings. "We're obviously righty-dominant, so there's definitely an appeal there," St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. "I don't feel like we have to force it, but it is nice to have a lefty to give us a different look."
Nola has posted a 2.76 ERA in his last six starts, with his one-run, three-hit performance in an 11-1 romp over St. Louis on May 7 contributing to his stellar surge. The 25-year-old owns a 3-2 mark with a 2.59 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in five career starts versus the Cardinals, although Dexter Fowler is 4-for-8 with two homers against him. Nola has surrendered just one run in four of his last six trips to the mound and struck out 18 in his last two, although his four walks in Thursday's 9-7 win at the Chicago Cubs were a cause for concern.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis has lost nine of its past 11 road games.
2. Philadelphia CF Odubel Herrera was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball following his arrest in a domestic violence case at an Atlantic City casino.
3. Cardinals OF Marcell Ozuna homered in his first at-bat on Tuesday after going 0-for-11 in the previous series with the Phillies.