最新杏吧原创

As expected coming into the season, Sonny Gray has been the Cardinals' most consistent starter in 2025.

Gray's consistency is desperately needed as the team tries to wash out the lingering aftertaste of a series in Chicago in which Cardinals pitching allowed the Cubs to tally 28 runs in three games.

Gray takes the hill as the Cardinals return home to face the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday to start a six-game homestand leading up to the All-Star break.

While the聽right-hander Gray (8-3, 3.51 ERA) doesn't have the most quality starts on the team 鈥斅燤atthew Liberatore has 10 to Gray's 9聽鈥� he has been the steadiest force in the rotation, consistently keeping his team in games start after start and leading the team to wins.

After two of their three starting pitchers cratered over the weekend, Gray, who has watched the Cardinals win 13 of his 17 starts, is a welcome sign.

Gray's consistency has helped the Cardinals close in on the break with better starting pitching than either of the teams above them in the National League Central standings.

最新杏吧原创 ranks 11th in baseball in wins above replacement, via Fangraphs, from its starting pitching. Gray and Liberatore account for 70% of that value.

In the division, only Pittsburgh phenom Paul Skenes has a higher WAR than Gray for the season.

Gray has a 2.52 ERA in his last eight games, making him the second most-valuable starter in baseball since May 19, just ahead of Skenes.

Opponents are hitting .230 against him in that span, and he's putting up a strikeout rate of just under 29% while allowing just seven barrelled balls, tied for third-fewest among qualified starters.

In the Nationals, the Cardinals face a team in tumult. Washington fired general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez on Sunday. Miguel Cairo, 51, who played parts of four seasons with the Cardinals in two stints here, is the interim skipper.

Martinez was in his eighth season at the helm, and Rizzo had been with the organization since 2006, a year after it relocated to Washington from Montreal.

Washington, with an NL East-worst 37-53 record, has a middling offense but some of the worst pitching in baseball. Its 5.16 ERA is only聽better than the Athletics and Rockies. The Nationals' 5.79 relief聽ERA is worst in baseball.

Right-hander Jake Irvin (7-3, 4.71 ERA) will start Tuesday for Washington. He allowed two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings last season at Busch. Only three pitchers have allowed more home runs than the 20 Irvin has permitted.

The Cardinals are 48-43, third in the NL Central and 6 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cubs.

Tuesday begins a stretch of four straight series against teams that have a losing record as of this writing.

How to watch Cardinals vs. Nationals

When:聽6:45 p.m. Tuesday

Where:聽Busch Stadium in 最新杏吧原创

TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .

Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.

Lineups

CARDINALS

1. Brendan Donovan, LF

2. Masyn Winn, SS

3. Alec Burleson, DH

4. Willson Contreras, 1B

5. Nolan Gorman, 3B

6. Thomas Saggese, 2B

7. Lars Nootbaar, RF

8. Pedro Pag茅s, C

9. Victor Scott II, CF

P: Sonny Gray, RHP

NATIONALS

1. CJ Abrams, SS

2. James Wood, LF

3. Luis Garc铆a Jr., 2B

4. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B

5. Josh Bell, DH

6. Brady House, 3B

7. Daylen Lile, RF

8. Riley Adams, C

9. Jacob Young, CF

P: Jake Irvin, RHP

Injury report

Nolan Arenado, 3B (swollen right hand, sprained finger, shoulder impingement):聽Arenado, between a sprained finger then a shoulder impingement, has played in just one game in the month of July.聽The veteran third baseman said he felt 鈥渄rastically鈥� better Tuesday than he did during the Cardinals鈥� off day on Monday, but he remained out of the lineup. Manager Oliver Marmol聽said he would be 鈥渟urprised鈥� if Arenado does not return to the lineup on Wednesday.聽Updated July 8

Jordan Walker, OF (appendicitis):聽A wrist injury that also limited his playing time in June is part of the reason the Cardinals expect Walker to remain on his rehab assignment for a longer stretch than just proving his health.聽When Walker could be activated and rejoin the Cardinals is unclear as he continues to work on his timing at the plate and adjustments to his stance.聽Updated July 8

Willson Contreras, 1B (bruised left hand):聽Back in the lineup Friday at Wrigley Field as expected after missing Wednesday's game due to a bruised hand. Contreras was struck on the hand by a pitch Tuesday and unable to finish that game due to stiffness and pain. X-rays taken at the ballpark did not show any fractures. Updated July 4

Ivan Herrera, C/DH (left hamstring strain):聽Herrera expects to begin a rehab assignment later this week. He could join Triple-A Memphis by Thursday or Friday, he said Tuesday. Herrera聽said he has felt fine running the bases and squatting. That timeline puts him in track to return after the All-Star break.聽Updated July 8

Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain):聽Lefty starter has begun a throwing program designed to strengthen his arm after a long stretch without much activity. The shoulder has responded well and Thompson has felt progress with this program, which had to be restarted because his recovery stalled in May. There is no timetable for his return to the mound.聽Updated June 19