The Cardinals, winners of two of the first three, wrap up a road series Monday afternoon against the Nationals. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m.
Before the game, the Cardinals activated outfielder Lars Nootbaar and optioned infielder Jose Fermin to Memphis.
Nootbaar has been out since late May with an oblique strain.
When healthy, Nootbaar has been one of the team's best hitters. His .741 OPS ranks fourth on the team.
Nootbaar will bat seventh and play right field Monday.
Right-hander Miles Mikolas (6-7, 5.19) will take the mound Monday for the Cardinals. Mikolas gave up two earned runs in six innings in his last outing, a no-decision in Pittsburgh.
Of his 18 starts this season, 10 have been quality.
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He surpassed the 100-inning mark in his last outing. He's reached 200 innings each of the last two seasons, something he takes pride in.
The Nationals will start a rookie left-hander for the second consecutive day, as Mitchell Parker (5-4, 3.61) takes the bump Monday.
Parker gave up a season-worst five earned runs in his last outing, the 16th of his career.
He did not allow more than three earned runs in any of his first 12 MLB starts, the longest streak to start a career in Nationals history.
His 5.2% walk rate is in the top 15 of big-league starters with 80 or more innings pitched this season.
The Cardinals are 47-42, a season-best five games above .500. They trail Milwaukee by five games for the NL Central lead.
A win Monday would give St. Louis wins in both series on the two-city road swing. The Redbirds next return home for two vs. Kansas City and four against the Cubs.
The Nationals are 42-48, fourth in the NL East.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Masyn Winn, SS
2. Alec Burleson, DH
3. Willson Contreras, C
4. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
5. Nolan Arenado, 3B
6. Brendan Donovan, LF
7. Lars Nootbaar, RF
8. Nolan Gorman, 2B
9. Michael Siani, CF
P: Miles Mikolas, RHP
NATIONALS
1. CJ Abrams, SS
2. Lane Thomas, RF
3. James Wood, LF
4. Jesse Winker, DH
5. Keibert Ruiz, C
6. Luis García Jr., 2B
7. Juan Yepez, 1B
8. Trey Lipscomb, 3B
9. Jacob Young, CF
P: Mitchell Parker, LHP
Injury report
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery): Will start his rehab assignment with Class AA Springfield on Tuesday, manager Oliver Marmol said. The early portion of his schedule sets him to start at DH and center field as he builds into games. Edman faced teammate Riley O'Brien during a live batting practice session Saturday in Springfield, Missouri. Edman has not appeared in a game since offseason wrist surgery. Updated July 8
Ivan Herrera (lower back tightness): Will move from designated hitter to catching during his rehab assignment with Class AAA Memphis. He homered in his first game of the current rehab assignment, and he has had no ongoing soreness or limitations due to the back pain first felt on the team's trip to Birmingham, Alabama. For more on Herrera's goals during his rehab assignment please see the note in Cardinals Extra about him. Updated July 7
Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon): Cardinals have declined to offer details on O'Brien's schedule following an live batting practice outing this past weekend. He could do that again, start a rehab assignment, or see another slow down of his progress, pending how he feels in the early days of this week. The Cardinals have declined to disclose much about his recovery from the live BP, saying only that it went well. O'Brien was slated to pitch for Double-A Springfield on June 18, however he had trouble bouncing back from his last outing. O'Brien was sent for an MRI, which came back clean. Updated July 8
Steven Matz (lower back stiffness): Matz continues to play catch back in St. Louis after receiving clearance to being throwing on Thursday after suffering a setback in his rehab process that prevented him from throwing for two weeks. He is still several weeks away from any conversation about a rehab assignment and starts in minor-league games. He experienced lingering soreness the morning following a June rehab outing, leading to a lengthy setback. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said the best-case scenario is a four-to-six week recovery time for Matz. Updated July 8