Winners of two straight series, the Cardinals begin a four-game home set Monday against the red-hot Padres. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m.
San Diego, led by former Cardinals skipper Mike Shildt, is 24-8 over the last month-plus. It's Shildt's first trip back to Busch since being named Padres manager in the offseason.
On Monday, right-hander Kyle Gibson (7-5, 4.22) will take the mound for the Cardinals.
Gibson has a 5.47 ERA over his last 10 starts dating to late June.
The Padres will counter with right-hander Randy Vasquez (3-6, 4.63), who was called up from Triple-A on Monday.
Vasquez made two big-league starts earlier this month, allowing a combined four earned runs. In his 17 MLB starts this year, he allowed five or more runs three times.
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He's allowing a .338 batting average against his fastball, his most-thrown among his six-pitch arsenal.
The Cardinals are 65-65, second in the NL Central and five games out of the final wild-card spot. Ƶ would move above .500 for the first time in two weeks with a win Monday.
The Padres are 74-58, third in the NL West. The Friars hold the second wild-card spot.
Since the All-Star break, San Diego's .788 team OPS ranks second-best in the National League.
San Diego center fielder Jackson Merrill, a first-round pick in 2021, is a honors. Including his walk-off blast on Sunday, Merrill has six tying or go-ahead home runs in the eighth inning or later, which ties him with Frank Robinson for the most by a player in his age 21 season or younger, according to the .
The two teams last met in the second series of the year, with the Cardinals taking two of three at Petco Park in early April.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Masyn Winn, SS
2. Alec Burleson, LF
3. Nolan Arenado, 3B
4. Lars Nootbaar, RF
5. Ivan Herrera, C
6. Brendan Donovan, 2B
7. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
8. Matt Carpenter, DH
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Kyle Gibson, RHP
PADRES
1. Luis Arraez, DH
2. Jurickson Profar, LF
3. Jake Cronenworth, 1B
4. Manny Machado, 3B
5. Xander Bogaerts, 2B
6. Jackson Merrill, CF
7. David Peralta, RF
8. Kyle Higashioka, C
9. Mason McCoy, SS
P: Randy Vasquez, RHP
Injury report
Lance Lynn (knee strain): The right-hander threw a live BP session Monday at Busch Stadium and reported no ill effects while speaking with reporters after the session. He will go on a minor-league rehab assignment, and he's slated to pitch for Triple-A Memphis against the Chicago Cubs' affiliate on Sunday in Des Moines, Iowa. He's expected to throw up to 85 pitches in that outing. Updated Aug. 26
Steven Matz (lower back stiffness): The left-hander will make another rehab start for Memphis on Tuesday, but he'll be on a reduced pitch count compared to his previous outing. He'll throw approximately 65 pitches after he threw 85 in his previous start. The reduced pitch count is in order to allow for "flexibility" when it comes time to adding him back onto the roster, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. Updated Aug. 26
Michael Siani (oblique strain): The outfielder progressed from front flips to coach-pitched batting practice to high-velocity machine work, and he faced Lynn in the live BP on Monday. Next, he'll start a rehab assignment with Memphis on Tuesday. He's expected to play five innings in the field at center field and progressively build his workload. Updated Aug. 26
Willson Contreras (fractured finger): The catcher and designated hitter fractured the middle finger on his right hand when struck by a pitch Saturday night. He was placed on the injured list Sunday and will have another scan taken of the finger Monday to determine the extent of the damage and establish a possible timetable for a return. The injury could end his season. Updated Aug. 25