Nationals at Cardinals 9/16/19 - MLB Picks & Predictions

Busch Stadium will play host to a Monday night clash between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals. On Sunday, Washington SP Anibal Sanchez defeated his former team for the third time this season during a 7-0 home victory versus Atlanta. Howie Kendrick homered and drove in three runs for the Nationals, who lead the NL Wild Card race.

Thirty-one year old righty Stephen Strasburg (17-6 3.49 ERA) will head to the hill for the Nationals in this contest. Through 191 innings, Strasburg ranks second in the National League with 229 strikeouts and sixth with a 1.05 WHIP.

The St. Louis Cardinals are 17 games above .500 overall and lead the NL Central Division by two games over Chicago. On Sunday, St. Louis was one strike away from victory before Ryan Braun crushed a grand slam during a 7-6 home loss versus Milwaukee. Harrison Bader went deep twice in a losing effort for the Cardinals.

Twenty-four year old righty Dakota Hudson (15-7 3.38 ERA) has pitched well in his first season in the Cardinals’ rotation. Control has been the only issue for Hudson, who has walked 75 batters in 159 plus innings.