With their six-game skid in the rearview mirror, the St. Louis Cardinals will try to build some momentum behind veteran Miles Mikolas on Sunday when they close out the four-game series against the host Milwaukee Brewers.
Mikolas (4-3, 4.48 ERA) will be opposed by fellow right-hander Quinn Priester (4-2, 3.65).
Nolan Gorman had a three-run homer and Willson Contreras added a solo shot as the Cardinals snapped their season-high losing streak with an 8-5 victory on Saturday.
“Even before that game started, I thought there was a certain level of fire and intensity to taking this one, and then being able to position ourselves to split the series,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said.
Mikolas has followed up a 3-0 record with 3.08 ERA in five starts in May with a 0-1 mark with a 7.36 ERA in two starts this month. His last time out, he was tagged for six runs on nine hits in five innings and took the loss in a 10-9 defeat against Toronto.
Mikolas is 10-6 in with a 3.87 ERA in 19 career appearances, including 18 starts, against the Brewers. He was 1-1 in three starts last season versus Milwaukee.
Contreras is batting .321 over his last 15 games with six doubles, three homers and 15 RBIs.
He homered in the top of the ninth Saturday, and his brother, William, homered in the bottom half for Milwaukee. They became the first set of brothers on opposing teams in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to homer in the same inning.
Alec Burleson had two hits for the second straight game and is hitting .362 over his last 13 games.
Right fielder Jordan Walker was activated off the 10-day injured list earlier Saturday and went 1-for-3.
Milwaukee stranded 11 runners Saturday, including the bases loaded in the eighth, and was just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
Priester, acquired from Boston in early April, is 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA in eight starts and 2-0 with a 5.66 ERA in four relief appearances.
He picked up the win his last time out, allowing one run in six innings in a 96-pitch outing in a 4-1 win over Atlanta.
Priester has won his last three decisions, including both appearances in June – one in relief and then the start versus the Braves, allowing two runs in 11 innings.
“The kid has just been getting better and better,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said after Priester’s last start. “When we first got him, he wasn’t where he is today. Another credit to the pitching coach staff and other pitchers for helping him to get better.”
He has made one start this season versus St. Louis, giving up five runs in five innings but did not get the decision in a 6-5 loss.
Right fielder Sal Frelick continued his hot hitting. He had a pair of doubles Saturday in four at-bats, raising his average to .299. Over his last 26 games, he is hitting .351.
–Field Level Media
