We’ve learned a lot about the current St. Louis Cardinals roster this season including some great things and others not so much. The last view of this team at home this season begins Friday night when the Cardinals welcome the Washington Nationals to town.
Pitching Matchups
Friday night – Kyle Leahy (RHP 10-4, 3.33 ERA, 128 SO) vs Cade Cavalli (RHP 12-5, 3.12 ERA, 194 SO)
Saturday night – Michael McGreevy (RHP 7-9, 3.83 ERA, 112 SO) vs Andrew Alvarez (LHP 2-6, 3.35 ERA, 99 SO)
Sunday afternoon – Quinn
Mathews (LHP 2-3, 3.62 ERA, 36 SO) vs Jake Irvin (RHP 2-9, 5.51 ERA, 96 SO)
Cade Cavalli has 3 no decisions in his last 3 starts. His last appearance was September 11 against the LA Angels where he threw 6 innings allowing 3 hits with 2 earned runs while striking out 9 and walking just 2. Andrew Alvarez also has no decisions in his last 3 starts. His most recent was September 12 against the LA Angels where he threw 7 innings of 1-hit ball allowing no earned runs while striking out 8 and walking 4. Jake Irvin has 1 loss and no wins in his last 3 starts. His most recent was on September 13 against the LA Angels tossing 5 innings while allowing 3 earned runs with only 2 hits striking out 6 and walking 4.
Washington Nationals Players to Watch
CJ Abrams – Abrams is tied for the home run lead for the Nationals with 30 home runs so far this season with 96 RBI’s and a .264 batting average and 29 stolen bases.
James Wood – Wood also has 30 homers this season with 75 RBI’s and an average of .266 and 21 steals.
Luis Garcia – Garcia has 23 home runs with 76 RBI’s and an average of .283.
Daylen Lile – Lile has 21 home runs with 85 RBI’s and an average of .252.
Curtis Mead – Mead has 15 home runs, 48 RBI’s and an average of .254.
The Washington Nationals have already been eliminated from playoff contention with a record of 71-81 as they sit in 4th place in the NL East. The Cardinals are on the cusp of playoff elimination as the team is 8 games out of the last Wild Card slot with just 9 games left to play.
There are a few new injury twists that the St. Louis Cardinals are dealing with. Joshua Baez left Wednesday’s game against the Giants with tightness in his side according to a report from Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch.
JJ Wetherholt returned to the lineup Wednesday playing a limited number of innings against the Giants, but it’s expected that he’ll be in the lineup again this weekend against the Nationals.
I’m in the process of collecting my own thoughts like many on our staff are likely doing as this season winds down. I will say that I have thoroughly enjoyed following this team much more than the previous few seasons. I really want to see this current version of the St. Louis Cardinals finish out the 2026 campaign strong. Winning or sweeping the Washington Nationals this weekend would be a good start.
