As Miles Mikolas navigates perhaps the worst stretch of his career, he hopes a small victory can lead to a larger one.
Mikolas starts Thursday for the Cardinals at 6:45 p.m. in the rubber game of a three-game series against the Nationals at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals fell 8-2 Wednesday as Andre Pallante was shelled.
The聽right-hander Mikolas (4-6, 5.26 ERA) is enduring a horrid stretch, an聽8.31 ERA in last five starts, three of which he has allowed six or more earned runs. Mikolas had never previously permitted six runs three times in the span of a month in his career.
He gave up a record six homers last time out, vs. the Cubs in Chicago. But he took a small amount of solace in eating innings, going six innings, which helped the team win the following day.
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Turning that tiny silver lining on one of the worst days of his career into a larger measure of success is Mikolas' next task.
Before this recent nosedive, Mikolas, who is in the last year of his contract, had been performing better than expected.聽After he was shelled in his second start of 2025, Mikolas produced more than respectable results for a long stretch: In 10 starts from early April to early June, he put up a 2.87 ERA.
Since then, Mikolas has been rocked by hard contact and home runs. Comparing his last five to that earlier stretch of solid results, Mikolas' average exit velocity is up 2.7 miles per hour, his hard-hit rate is up 7 percentage points, and his batting average against has jumped from .236 to .327.
Nearly half of the balls hit against Mikolas have been fly balls in recent starts, and a quarter of those have left the yard, not a good combination. The Nationals produce pulled fly balls at the lowest rate in baseball, perhaps a sign that Mikolas could be a bit more effective.
This season, Mikolas' success has been correlated with that of his breaking pitches.聽From April 12 through May 23, opponents hit .132 against his breaking pitches. Since then, he's allowing foes to hit .333 vs. breaking balls.
The Nationals will send out聽right-hander Michael Soroka (3-6, 5.40 ERA),聽who was one of the game's top rookies in 2019 with Atlanta before injuries derailed his career. , both requiring long rehabs.
Soroka's slurve is one of the most effective breaking pitches in baseball.
Former Cardinal聽Paul DeJong will make his first appearance of the series, batting sixth and playing third base for Washington. He in mid-April and didn't return to the active roster until July 1.
The Cardinals are 49-44, third in the National League Central and 5 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cubs.
Washington is聽38-54, last in the National League East.
How to watch Cardinals vs. Nationals
When:聽6:45 p.m. Thursday
Where:聽Busch Stadium in 51黑料
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. Alec Burleson, RF
4. Willson Contreras, 1B
5. Lars Nootbaar, LF
6. Nolan Arenado, 3B
7. Nolan Gorman, DH
8. Yohel Pozo, C
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Miles Mikolas, RHP
NATIONALS
1. CJ Abrams, SS
2. James Wood, LF
3. Luis Garc铆a Jr., 2B
4. Josh Bell, DH
5. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
6. Paul DeJong, 3B
7. Daylen Lile, RF
8. Drew Millas, C
9. Jacob Young, CF
P:聽Michael Soroka, RHP
Injury report
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
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
