Opposite dugout: Red-hot Cardinals aim to continue playoff push

Manager: Mike Shildt (1st season)

Record: 76-61

Last 10 games: 6-4

Who to watch: IF Matt Carpenter (.273 with 35 HR, 73 RBIs); 1B José Martínez (.310 with 77 RBIs, 139 hits); C Yadier Molina (.271 with 108 hits); LF Marcell Ozuna (.273 with 133 hits); RHP Miles Mikolas (13-4, 2.96 ERA); RHP Jack Flaherty (8-6, 2.87 ERA); RHP Bud Norris (2.85 ERA, 28 saves)

Season series vs. Nationals: 3-1

Pitching probables:

Sept. 3: RHP Jack Flaherty (8-6) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (16-6), 1:05 p.m., MASN
Sept. 4: RHP Miles Mikolas (13-4) vs. RHP Erick Fedde (1-3), 7:05 p.m., MASN
Sept. 5: RHP John Gant (6-5) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (8-14), 7:05 p.m., MASN

Inside the Cardinals:

Teams can often look forward to September. Those clubs that have struggled can take advantage of roster expansion and get a glimpse of future talent, while those in contention enter the final stretch to secure a postseason spot. Yet if there's one team that's sad to leave August behind, it has to be the Cardinals. On Aug. 1, the Cardinals were just a game above .500 and 7 1/2 games behind in the National League Central. But following a stretch during which they went 22-6 - yes, 22-6 - the Cardinals entered September a full 16 games above .500 and right in the thick of the NL playoff race. St. Louis is battling the Brewers for control of the top wild card spot, but there's no doubt the Cardinals have their sights set on capturing their first division title since 2015.

On offense, the Cardinals feature plenty of skilled hitters, including a few with some serious power. Let's start with infielder Matt Carpenter. The 32-year-old leads the National League with 35 home runs, and entered Sunday third on the team in hits with 130. First baseman José Martínez, meanwhile, is third in the senior circuit with a .311 batting average and leads the Cards with 139 hits and 77 RBIs. In the outfield, left fielder Marcell Ozuna is enjoying a nice first season in St. Louis. Ozuna was traded by the Marlins this past offseason after posting back-to-back All-Star campaigns in Miami. While he missed out on the midsummer classic in 2018, the 27-year-old has still made a nice home with the Cardinals. He's hitting .273 with 133 hits and 69 RBIs. Don't forget about the ageless wonder that is Yadier Molina. In his 15th season, all with the Cardinals, Molina is hitting .270 with 16 home runs in 105 games.

Jack Flaherty starts this afternoon's series opener. The rookie has been on fire lately, going 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA in his last five starts. He's never faced the Nationals, but will look to win his fifth straight decision and keep his season ERA under 3.00. Speaking of pitchers on a roll, how about Cardinals ace Miles Mikolas? Though he may not be a finalist for the NL Cy Young Award, Mikolas is a fascinating story. After stints with the Rangers and Padres, Mikolas spent three years in Japan pitching for the Yomiuri Giants. He returned to the major leagues in 2018 with the Cardinals, and has been sensational. In 27 starts, Mikolas has posted a 13-4 record and a 2.96 ERA. He pitched against the Nationals on Aug. 13, giving up four earned runs in seven innings in a no-decision. It'll be John Gant in Wednesday's series finale. Like Flaherty and Mikolas, Gant has achieved considerable success lately, going 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA in his last five starts. Still, he's struggled a bit against the Nationals, posting a 6.75 ERA in three career starts.

Veteran Bud Norris handles the closing duties for the Cardinals. Despite pitching in the majors for 10 years, Norris earned his first career save just last season. Since then, however, he's amassed 47 of them, including 28 this year. Joining Norris in the bullpen are relievers Jordan Hicks, Brett Cecil and Austin Gomber.