Cardinals Look to Extend Winning Streak Against Struggling Nationals

St. Louis Favored on the Road in Matchup of NL Playoff Hopefuls

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:47am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting a baseball game between two teams, with players and the stadium setting broken down into sharp, overlapping planes.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes NL matchup between the Cardinals and Nationals, capturing the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the game.St. Louis Today

The St. Louis Cardinals (5-4) will travel to Washington, D.C. to take on the struggling Washington Nationals (3-6) in an early-season NL matchup on Tuesday night. The Cardinals, who have won three straight, are favored on the road at -144, while the Nationals are +120 underdogs at home. The pitching matchup features St. Louis' Matthew Liberatore and Washington's Cade Cavalli.

Why it matters

This game pits two teams with playoff aspirations in the National League, though they've had contrasting starts to the 2026 season. The Cardinals are looking to build on their recent winning streak and establish themselves as a top contender in the NL Central, while the Nationals are hoping to bounce back from a slow start and get their season on track in front of the home crowd.

The details

The Cardinals' offense has been led by a balanced attack, ranking 13th in MLB with 4.4 runs per game. They've hit 11 doubles and 8 home runs, with 39 RBIs. On the mound, St. Louis has struggled with a 4.94 team ERA, 26th in the league. The Nationals, meanwhile, have a potent offense averaging 6.11 runs per game (3rd in MLB), but their pitching staff has been a major weakness with a 6.27 team ERA (30th in MLB).

  • The game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
  • First pitch is set for 7:05 PM Eastern Time and will be televised on Nationals.TV.

The players

Matthew Liberatore

The 26-year-old right-hander is in his fourth MLB season with the Cardinals. He has a career 16-24 record with a 4.54 ERA and 1.365 WHIP.

Cade Cavalli

The 24-year-old right-hander is making his 11th career start for the Nationals. He has a 3-2 record with a 4.77 ERA and 1.495 WHIP in his young MLB career.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are a perennial NL playoff contender, looking to bounce back from a slow start and build on their current three-game winning streak.

Washington Nationals

The Nationals are hoping to turn things around after a 3-6 start to the season, as they aim to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

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What they’re saying

“We know we have a talented team, we just need to put it all together consistently. This series against the Nationals is a great opportunity to build some momentum.”

— Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals First Baseman

“Our pitching has to be better if we want to compete in this division. Cade has the stuff to give us a quality start and keep us in the game against a tough Cardinals lineup.”

— Dave Martinez, Nationals Manager

What’s next

The winner of this game will take an important early-season lead in the NL Wild Card race, as both teams look to position themselves for a playoff push.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Cardinals and Nationals features two teams with high expectations, but contrasting starts to the 2026 season. St. Louis will look to continue its recent winning ways and establish itself as a top contender, while Washington hopes to get its season back on track at home against a tough divisional opponent.