The Washington Nationals have lost six of their last seven games and have scored just a total of six runs through the first three contests of this four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Nats are still a sizable favorite for this matchup, almost solely because they'll trot out their ace Stephen Strasburg (2-1, 3.82) on the mound. Strasburg has fanned 20 while allowing just a pair of runs through his last two starts, covering 15 innings of work.

Strasburg owns a 2.56 ERA in six career appearances against the Cards who counter with Dakota Hudson (2-1, 5.63 ERA). The 24-year-old right-hander was tagged with three runs in 5 2/3 frames of a 6-3 win against Cincinnati last time out but should not have much to fear from a Nats lineup that is ice cold at the plate.

The Cards are red hot with five wins in a row and they've been victorious in 10 of their last 11 games. This is too good of a price on the visitors to pass up on.

8* play on St. Louis Cardinals.