Three things to know about this game
• Four of the five run-scoring batted balls the Nationals put in play against Ray in his last start had an exit velocity below Statcast's 95-mph baseline for "hard-hit" contact. That was a personal high for Ray in a single game since Statcast was introduced in 2015.
• Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and third baseman Jedd Gyorko are expected to be back in the starting lineup after getting a breather in Thursday's series opener.
• Wacha is 6-1 with a 2.93 ERA in 11 starts at Busch Stadium this season, while Ray is 5-1 with a 1.51 ERA in nine road starts.