The St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals wrap up their three-game weekend series at Nationals Park on Sunday, May 11, 2025, in a matchup that finds the two clubs trending in opposite directions. The Cardinals have taken the first two games of the series, including a dominant 10-0 shutout in the opener and a comfortable win in Game 2, extending their winning streak to six—their longest since mid-2023—and pushing their record above .500 for the first time since early April. The surge has been fueled by a resurgent offense and unexpectedly strong performances from the pitching staff. Erick Fedde threw a complete-game shutout in Game 1, while key bats like Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado have come alive, providing timely hitting and depth to the lineup. Brendan Donovan continues to set the tone at the top of the order, batting .327 on the year, and Lars Nootbaar has added speed and consistency, both offensively and defensively. For the series finale, St. Louis will turn to veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas, who enters with a 1-3 record and a 4.76 ERA, looking to build on the staff’s recent dominance. The Nationals, on the other hand, find themselves in a rut, having dropped three straight games and falling to 17-21 overall. They’ve struggled to generate offense consistently, being shut out for the third time this season on Friday, and continue to face challenges with run production and situational hitting.

MacKenzie Gore will start for Washington, and while his 3.33 ERA indicates solid work, he’s received little run support in recent outings. The Nationals are hitting just .242 as a team with a .386 slugging percentage—numbers that reflect an inability to string together rallies or deliver in clutch spots. James Wood and Keibert Ruiz have been the team’s steadiest contributors, but their offense too often relies on individual efforts rather than cohesive production. Sunday’s game could come down to whether Gore can neutralize the Cardinals’ surging lineup long enough for the Nationals to scrape together offense against Mikolas, who has been inconsistent this season but capable of working deep into games when his command is on. Key factors will include early scoring, defensive execution, and bullpen management, as Washington’s relief corps has been vulnerable in the late innings. For the Cardinals, this is a chance to complete a morale-boosting sweep, continue climbing in the NL Central standings, and head into the next series with momentum. For the Nationals, avoiding a sweep at home is critical for maintaining confidence and staying afloat in a competitive NL East. As both teams take the field, the contrast in form and confidence couldn’t be sharper—St. Louis is rolling, while Washington is searching for answers, and that dynamic sets the tone for a high-leverage finale at Nationals Park.