Game Preview 5/14: Cardinals vs. Nationals (Game 1)

The Cardinals try to win both games of a doubleheader but first they need to win the first.

The Cardinals, currently on a 9-game winning streak, look to extend that streak to 10 wins with today’s game. Hopefully, it’s an 11-game streak by the end of the day, but first let’s focus on getting it to double digits. For the doubleheader, because Michael McGreevy started last Saturday, the 27th man is Matt Svanson. Cardinals face a tough lefty in Jesus Luzardo in the first game.

How to watch: FanDuel Sports Midwest

How to listen: KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM

First Pitch: 12:05 PM CST

Today’s Matchup:

Erick Fedde (3.86 ERA/4.13 FIP/5.02 xFIP)

vs.

Jesus Luzardo (2.11 ERA/2.33 FIP/3.25 xFIP)

Players to Watch

STL: Willson Contreras: Contreras has been on fire after his cold slump, so much so that he could have been Player of the Week three straight weeks. He hit a long double in Game 1 of the series and has a career 133 wRC+ against LHP, so if anyone is going to hit Jesus Luzardo, I would guess it would be this guy.

PHI: Kyle Schwarber: Schwarber has been a good hitter his entire career, but he is playing hitting much better than he ever has. It’s thanks in large part to a career low 20.3 K%, and it’s by far his career low too. Whether he can sustain that for the whole season, we will see. Schwarber makes his bread and butter crushing righties, and Fedde doesn’t miss bats very often. I do not like this matchup for Fedde.

Apparently, the rain may get in the way once again in Philly, so the game is not necessarily going to be on time. But both teams will want to use the off-day they have tomorrow, so I’m assuming they’ll do everything in their power to get this game in.