The Cardinals wrap up a road series with the rubber game Sunday against the Yankees. First pitch is set for 12:35 p.m.
The teams have split the first two games. On Saturday, the Cardinals held on for a one-run win, their first in the Bronx since 1964.
Right-hander Miles Mikolas (8-10, 5.23) will take the mound Sunday for the Cardinals. Mikolas has allowed four or more earned runs in four of his five August starts.
His 6.39 August ERA is among the worst for qualified pitchers. Despite the rough results, his expected ERA, based on quality of contact, is a run better than last season.
The Yankees will counter with left-hander Nestor Cortes (8-10, 3.89), a 29-year-old who will likely eclipse his career high in innings Sunday.
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Cortes has been dominant in his last three starts with a 0.44 ERA in 20 2/3 innings pitched. That surge has coincided with a change in strategy: throwing the to right-handers.
Before the game, the Cardinals activated pitcher Steven Matz, who has missed several months with a back strain and disc injury.
The Cardinals are 68-68, third in the NL Central. Ƶ is six games back of a wild-card berth. The Cardinals have won seven of 11 and a win Sunday would give the Redbirds a winning record for the first time since Aug. 12.
Only one National League team has fewer than the Cardinals' 27 August home runs, and the Redbirds rank second-to-last with a .391 August slugging percentage.
The Yankees are 79-57, the best record in the American League. They lead baseball with a .774 team OPS.
Outfielder Aaron Judge has an MLB-best 51 homers, seven better than the No. 2-ranked player, Shohei Ohtani. With 123 RBIs, Judge also leads that category by a wide margin.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Masyn Winn, SS
2. Luken Baker, DH
3. Nolan Arenado, 3B
4. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
5. Iván Herrera, C
6. Brendan Donovan, 2B
7. Jordan Walker, RF
8. Lars Nootbaar, LF
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Miles Mikolas, RHP
YANKEES
1. Gleyber Torres, 2B
2. Juan Soto, RF
3. Aaron Judge, CF
4. Austin Wells, C
5. Giancarlo Stanton, DH
6. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B
7. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
8. Anthony Volpe, SS
9. Alex Verdugo, LF
P: Nestor Cortes, LHP
Injury report
Michael Siani (oblique strain):The outfielder was scheduled to play nine innings Saturday to test how he feels in back-to-back games. He'll talk with manager Oliver Marmol on Saturday night to determine if he's activated Sunday. Siani has missed several weeks with an oblique strain, and if he recovers well from back-to-back days he could be activated as soon as Sunday when rosters expand.Updated Aug. 31
Willson Contreras (fractured finger):Thecatcher fractured the middle finger on his right hand when struck by a pitch Saturday night. He will have three weeks of no impact then he can begin a progression. There's not much wiggle room for a possible return. The injury could end his season.Updated Aug. 27
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