Nationals come into matchup against the Cardinals on losing streak

Updated Jul. 26, 2024 4:00 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Washington Nationals (47-56, fourth in the NL East) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (53-49, second in the NL Central)

St. Louis; Friday, 8:15 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (6-8, 4.20 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 118 strikeouts); Cardinals: Sonny Gray (10-6, 3.54 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 131 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Cardinals -167, Nationals +140; over/under is 7 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals enter the matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals as losers of three straight games.

St. Louis has a 26-22 record at home and a 53-49 record overall. The Cardinals have the ninth-ranked team on-base percentage in the NL at .309.

Washington has a 47-56 record overall and a 24-29 record in road games. The Nationals have a 35-6 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.

Friday's game is the fifth time these teams match up this season. The Cardinals have a 3-1 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Alec Burleson has 14 doubles, 18 home runs and 60 RBI for the Cardinals. Willson Contreras is 10-for-33 with two home runs and four RBI over the last 10 games.

C.J. Abrams has 21 doubles, six triples and 15 home runs while hitting .260 for the Nationals. Juan Yepez is 14-for-36 with five doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cardinals: 5-5, .259 batting average, 3.78 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs

Nationals: 5-5, .228 batting average, 5.32 ERA, outscored by 18 runs

INJURIES: Cardinals: Steven Matz: 60-Day IL (back), Keynan Middleton: 60-Day IL (forearm), Nick Robertson: 15-Day IL (elbow), Riley O'Brien: 60-Day IL (forearm), Tommy Edman: 60-Day IL (wrist), Drew Rom: 60-Day IL (biceps)

Nationals: Josiah Gray: 60-Day IL (elbow), Joey Gallo: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Trevor Williams: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Cade Cavalli: 60-Day IL (elbow), Mason Thompson: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.