Cardinals starter Andre Pallante has not been as effective as many had hoped so far this season, but a recent uptick in performance is providing new optimism that he may yet be on the right track.
Pallante takes the hill Wednesday as the Cardinals continue a series against the Nationals at 6:45 p.m. at Busch Stadium.
ѿý prevailed in a 'weird' rain-delayed opener late Tuesday.
Pallante, with a 2.22 ERA in his last five starts, has shaved nearly a run off his ERA, which was nearing five in early June.
Over the past month, the right-hander Pallante (5-4, 4.10 ERA overall) has the team's best ERA among starters and is the team's second most valuable starter by Fangraphs wins above replacement in that span.
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Opponents are hitting just .214 against him in his last five starts, and he has only allowed four barrelled balls in that time while keeping foes on the ground at a 65.1% rate.
In four of his last five starts, Pallante has gotten groundballs about 70% of the time, a key factor to his success.
Adjustments to his arsenal have been minor. He threw an equal percentage of breaking pitches as fastballs for the first time this season in his second-to-last start. In some starts earlier this season, two-thirds of Pallante's offerings were fastballs.
Washington, on paper, would seem to be a good matchup for Pallante. Entering the series, the Nationals had hit the most groundballs in baseball while hitting them for the lowest average (.218).
He'll need to be at his best as the Nationals send out left-hander and All-Star MacKenzie Gore (3-8, 3.11 ERA). Gore allowed four earned runs in 6 2/3 innings vs. ѿý earlier this year. His slider is one of the best in baseball.
The Cardinals have lost five of their last seven games started by left-handed opposing pitchers.
ѿý has baseball's worst batting average against lefties since June 20 (.173). That's when Ivan Herrera, with a 1.189 OPS against left-handers, was placed on the injured list.
Nolan Arenado, who has been dealing with various injuries, is in the lineup Wednesday for just the second time since the start of the month. He'll bat fifth and play third base.
The Cardinals are 49-43, third in the National League Central and 5 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cubs.
The Nationals are 37-54, last in the National League East.
How to watch Cardinals vs. Nationals
When: 6:45 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Busch Stadium in ѿý
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, 2B
2. Masyn Winn, SS
3. Willson Contreras, 1B
4. Alec Burleson, RF
5. Nolan Arenado, 3B
6. Yohel Pozo, DH
7. Lars Nootbaar, LF
8. Pedro Pagés, C
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Andre Pallante, RHP
NATIONALS
1. CJ Abrams, SS
2. James Wood, LF
3. Amed Rosario, 2B
4. Josh Bell, DH
5. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
6. Alex Call, RF
7. Brady House, 3B
8. Riley Adams, C
9. Jacob Young, CF
P: MacKenzie Gore, LHP
Injury report
Nolan Arenado, 3B (swollen right hand, sprained finger, shoulder impingement): Arenado, between a sprained finger then a shoulder impingement, has played in just one game in the month of July. The veteran third baseman said he felt “drastically” better Tuesday than he did during the Cardinals’ off day on Monday, but he remained out of the lineup. Manager Oliver Marmol said he would be “surprised” if Arenado does not return to the lineup on Wednesday. Updated July 8
Jordan Walker, OF (appendicitis): 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. 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. Updated July 8
Willson Contreras, 1B (bruised left hand): 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): Herrera expects to begin a rehab assignment later this week. He could join Triple-A Memphis by Thursday or Friday, he said Tuesday. Herrera said he has felt fine running the bases and squatting. That timeline puts him in track to return after the All-Star break. Updated July 8
Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): 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. Updated June 19
