Nationals at Cardinals 10/12/19 - MLB Playoffs Picks & Predictions

In Saturday afternoon MLB playoff action, the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals will square off from Busch Stadium. Last night, Washington SP Anibal Sanchez took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of a 2-0 road victory. Yan Gomes doubled in Howie Kendrick in the second inning for all of the offense that the Nationals would need on the night.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (11-7 2.92 ERA) will take the mound for the Nationals in this matchup. Through 13 innings this postseason, Scherzer has struck out 16 batters and owns a 1.08 WHIP.

The St. Louis Cardinals won 50 of their 81 home games during the regular season and now have lost home field advantage in this best-of-seven series. On Friday, St. Louis pinch hitter Jose Martinez recorded the only hit for his team. SP Miles Mikolas struck out seven batters and allowed a run across six innings in a losing effort for the Cardinals. 

The Cardinals will counter with veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright (14-10 4.19 ERA) in Game Two. Last time out, Wainwright struck out eight batters across seven plus scoreless frames during a 3-1 road loss against Atlanta in the NLDS.