After a 4-5 homestand, St. Louis will wrap up the first half of the 2019 season with a three-city trip. First stop: San Diego, for three games with the Padres at Petco Park.
With a 40-39 record at the start of play on Friday, the Cardinals are in third place in the Central division, just three games back of the Cubs. The Padres are an even 40-40 but 14 1⁄2 games back of the 56-27 Dodgers.
In Friday’s series opener, Eric Lauer and Michael Wacha will be the mound matchup.