2019 MLB NLCS Game 3 – St. Louis Cardinals @ Washington Nationals Preview & Pick
THE FACTS
When is St. Louis Cardinals @ Washington Nationals taking place? Tuesday 15th October, 2019 – 00:38 (UK)
Where is St. Louis Cardinals @ Washington Nationals taking place? Nationals Park
What is the expected weather for St. Louis Cardinals @ Washington Nationals? Clear, 20c
What television channel is St. Louis Cardinals @ Washington Nationals on? BT Sport 1 in the UK / TBS, TBS-INT in the US
Where can I stream St. Louis Cardinals @ Washington Nationals? BT Sport subscribers can stream the match live via the BT Sport website or app in the UK / MLB.tv in the US
Where can I get tickets for St. Louis Cardinals @ Washington Nationals? https://www.mlb.com/tickets/season-tickets
What was the outcome in the last meeting? St. Louis Cardinals 1-3 Washington Nationals
THE TEAM NEWS
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
- Things have not gone as expected for the Cardinals in the first two games of the NLCS against the Washington Nationals. After an offensive explosion that saw them score 13 runs in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, now they have scored just one run while notching just four hits in the first two games against the Nationals. To make things even more complicated, St. Louis have gone 4-8 in their last 12 contests dating back to the regular season and they face an uphill battle considering the next three games will be at Nationals Park.
- Michael Wacha has not been included on the NLCS roster due to a shoulder injury, but he was the team’s lone fitness concern ahead of this contest so St. Louis do not have any fresh injury issues ahead of Game 3. It is clear their offense must step it up and one player to watch will be Marcell Ozuna – the power-hitting outfielder who is yet to record a hit during the NLCS and overdue one.
- Rookie Jack Flaherty will get the start for the Cardinals in Game 3 and he was pretty solid in his last outing, as he allowed just one run in six innings. The 23-year-old right-hander has gone 11-8 with a 2.75 ERA in 33 starts during 2019, and he also posted a solid 2.77 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP in two starts during the NLDS against the Braves and St. Louis will need another solid effort from him in the NLCS.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
- It seems no team can stop the Nationals at the moment. Washington not only got past the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, but they have also won the first two games of the NLCS while playing away from home and are in fine form. Now the Nats return home, where they posted a 50-31 mark during the regular season and they have gone 10-2 in their last 12 games dating all the way back to the regular season. They are the hottest team in MLB right now.
- The Nationals do not have injury absentees ahead of this Game 2, especially since Daniel Hudson already returned to the team as he was initially included on the paternity list. Star third baseman Anthony Rendon has been a hitting machine during the playoffs, and he has hit for .333 so far in the first two games against the Cardinals.
- Star right-hander Stephen Strasburg will get the start for Game 3 and will try to build on another strong start after he tossed six solid innings in Game 5 of the NLDS. Strasburg has been impressive during the playoffs in his career owning a 1.32 ERA in six postseason appearances, with 45 strikeouts in 34.0 innings.
THE PREDICTION
The Nationals have been thoroughly dominant so far in the first two games of the NLCS against the Cardinals, and all signs point towards them getting a third win in the series. Washington now have home advantage with Strasburg on the mound and they will relish this game against the Cardinals’ bats who have struggled in the first two games of the NLCS so far. St. Louis only went 41-40 on the road in 2019 and expect the Nationals to go up 3-0 in the NLCS with another stellar effort here.
