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Montgomery (8-3, 3.15 ERA) is 5-0 with a 1.47 ERA in six starts
since the New York Yankees dealt him to the Cardinals last
month.
"The dude's calm, regardless of the situation," Cardinals
manager Oliver Marmol said. "The more guys you can have like
that, the better off you're going to be."
Montgomery will get the call for the third game of this
four-game series in St. Louis. The Cardinals lost 6-0 on Monday
and won 4-1 on Tuesday. St. Louis (80-56) has not lost
back-to-back games since July 24 and 26.
"I did not know that," Marmol said. "We are focused on winning
every game, and we won't change that."
The Nationals (48-88) had won five of their last six games
before Tuesday's loss.
Montgomery, a left-hander, is coming off an 8-0 victory over the
Chicago Cubs on Friday. He threw six innings, blanking the Cubs
on seven hits and two walks, with four strikeouts.
He has learned to trust his infield defense, which includes Gold
Glovers Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt and Tommy Edman.
"When Monty pitches, he throws that sinker, so you usually get a
lot of work," Arenado said. "I like it because I want the ball
hit to me. I feel like I did a good job of making every play."
This will be Montgomery's first career start against the
Nationals.
Washington manager Dave Martinez has selected right-hander Cory
Abbott (0-2, 4.39) to make a spot start on Wednesday so that
pitcher Patrick Corbin could have an extra day off before his
next start.
Abbott has pitched twice in relief this month, both times for
one scoreless inning against the New York Mets.
He pitched a scoreless inning of relief against the Cardinals on
July 31 while striking out two and walking one. Abbott is 0-0
with a 3.00 ERA in two career appearances (six innings) against
them.
The Nationals got veteran designated hitter Nelson Cruz back in
the lineup Tuesday after his recovery from a knee contusion. But
the focal point for Martinez will continue to be developing
young players such as shortstop C.J Abrams, who is batting .226
in 66 games this season (20 with the Nationals, 46 with the San
Diego Padres).
Abrams, 21, was acquired from San Diego in the trade that sent
Juan Soto there last month.
"We got him here, and I didn't put any expectations on him
whatsoever," Martinez said. "We talked about that -- ‘You're
going to come here, you're going to play, you're going to be our
shortstop. We're going to take baby steps with you. I just want
you to go out there and have fun.'
"He's been really good with everything."
The Nationals are working with Abrams to alter his hitting
approach so he can maximize the value of his speed.
"We've talked a lot about him staying behind the baseball and
really not trying to do too much," Martinez said. "I talked to
him about just hitting hard ground balls, and he's done well.
He's staying on top of the baseball a lot better. He sees the
ball well. He doesn't necessarily chase when he gets back on
time, and he's doing really well with that right now."
--Field Level Media
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