Two of the National League’s top contenders square off for the first time this season as the St. Louis Cardinals (8-3) head to Nationals Park to begin a three-game series with the Washington Nationals (6-7). Read on for more about this game below. You can also click here for Game 1 of the Athletics-Angels series.
[sc:MLBArticles ]St. Louis Cardinals vs. Washington Nationals Preview
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
When: Tuesday, April 21, 7:05 PM ET
Line: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Washington Nationals – view all MLB lines
Betting on the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis is still the team to beat in the National League Central. With a 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, the Cards improved to a division-best 8-3 record and extended their win streak to five games. Up ahead for the team is a trip to Washington, where the Cards are 7-3 in their last 10 visits there.
[sc:MLB240banner ]On the mound for the Cards on Tuesday is right-hander Lance Lynn, who’s coming off a solid outing in St. Louis’ 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on April 15. Lynn pitched five innings in that game, surrendering just one run on six hits to go along with four strikeouts. Lynn will look to build on that performance as he aims to continue his win streak against Washington. Lynn has won his two starts versus the Nationals last season, pitching for 13.2 total innings with just one earned run for a 0.66 ERA. Lynn is 3-1 with an ERA of 3.86 in five career starts against Washington.
Like the team’s pitching staff, St. Louis’ lineup has been doing its work, too. Led by Matt Carpenter, who’s been swinging his bat well of late, the Cards were able to score 25 runs over their last six games. During that stretch, Carpenter has hit .480/.480/.880. The leadoff hitter blasted his second homer of the season in the series finale against Milwaukee, as part of his 2-for-3 night.
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Betting on the Washington Nationals
Order has been restored in Washington after a slow start to the season. The Nationals, who’ve gone 4-1 in their last five games, are being carried by a robust offense that has scored 29 runs during that span.
Gio Gonzalez (1-1, 5.11 ERA) is hoping the same run support from his teammates when he starts in the series opener against the visiting Cardinals. Washington starters were backed by 7.5 runs per nine innings pitched over the team’s last seven games.
One of the hitters the Nationals are looking to provide production at the plate is Ian Desmond. The shortstop is hitting .448 (13-for-29) in the Nationals’ last seven games. He extended his hitting streak to six games on Sunday, when he went 2-for-4 in Washington’s 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Facing Lance Lynn may help Desmond prolong that streak, as he is 3-for-9 (.333) with a double and two RBIs in his career against the Cards’ righty.
Lynn will also have to watch out for Bryce Harper, who went 3-for-9 with two homers and four RBIs in the four-game series with Philadelphia.
Washington is 4-0 in Gonzalez’s last four home starts against the Cardinals.
Writer’s Prediction
Washington wins, 5-4.
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