The Washington Nationals enter the day looking to bounce back after Tuesday’s heartbreaking defeat in extra innings. Miles Mikolas will look to re-introduce himself to both his former team and the Washington fans as his squad goes for a series victory.

The Washington Nationals dropped a 7-6 game in 10 innings to the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night, in a game that followed the theme of the homestand; early offense, late drama, and a bullpen that couldn’t quite hold the lead. Washington battled back multiple times and entered extras tied, but St. Louis plated two runs in the 10th and held on despite a late push.

Offensively, the Nationals continued to show their ability to generate runs without needing perfect swings. James Wood stayed hot, homering for the third straight game, while Curtis Mead delivered one of his best performances of the young season with three hits, including a home run. CJ Abrams added a long ball of his own, and contributions from Nasim Nuñez and Jacob Young helped Washington build and maintain a mid-game lead.

On the mound, Cade Cavalli ran into trouble early, as the Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. He settled in enough to keep Washington within striking distance, but the game shifted in the later innings. The bullpen once again struggled to fully lock things down, allowing the Cardinals to tie the game in the eighth before surrendering the decisive runs in extras.

On Deck…

After a day off, Washington will open a seven-game road trip with a weekend set against the Milwaukee Brewers, who have not yet announced their starter. Meanwhile, the Nationals are expected to start Jake Irvin in that first game.

In the hole…

That series will continue on Saturday afternoon, as the 2:10 P.M. game will feature Foster Griffin facing off against the reigning N.L. Central champions.