Perhaps because St. Louis' Mike Leake (0-2, 5.64 ERA) has allowed at least four runs in each of his four starts and 28 hits in 22 1/3 innings. The right-hander gave up five runs -- three earned -- and seven hits in five innings of Sunday's 8-5 win at San Diego.
He's 3-3 with a 4.78 ERA in nine starts against the Nationals, last facing them in May 2014.
Stephen Strasburg (3-0, 2.17) hopes to keep things close even if Washington's offense continues to struggle as he tries to go 4-0 for the first time. After yielding three runs in his first three starts, the right-hander gave up four -- including a three-run homer -- but struck out 10 over 7 1/3 innings of Sunday's 6-5, 16-inning victory over Minnesota.
Facing the Cardinals (12-10) for the first time since June 2014, Strasburg is 0-2 in four starts against them despite posting a 2.81 ERA. Matt Holliday and Matt Carpenter are a combined 7 for 18 with three doubles against Strasburg.
St. Louis totaled 45 runs and 66 hits while winning four of five before managing three hits and striking out 11 times in Thursday's 3-0 loss at Arizona.
"These guys swing the bat pretty well, and we were just trying to make them uncomfortable," Arizona catcher Chris Herrmann said.
Carpenter was 6 for 16 with five RBI over the 4-1 stretch before going hitless in four at-bats Thursday.
The Series:
Season series tied 0-0
April 29, 2016-WAS (Strasburg) @ STL (Leake)-7:15 PM CDT
April 30, 2016-WAS (Ross) @ STL (García)-1:15 PM CDT
May 1, 2016-WAS (Scherzer) @ STL (Martínez)-1:15 PM CDT