Drew Rom and Cardinals face ex-Redbird Michael Wacha and Padres in rubber game

The Cardinals wrap up a road series with the rubber game Sunday against the Padres. First pitch is set for 3:10 p.m. St. Louis time.

Left-hander Drew Rom (1-3, 6.92) will take the mound for the Cardinals. Rom, who will be making his seventh career start, has been up-and-down so far. He gave up five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings last time out, one start after shutting out the Orioles in 5 1/3 in his previous outing.

The Padres will counter with right-hander and former Cardinal Michael Wacha (12-4, 3.44). Wacha, a former first-round pick for the Cardinals who got off to a scintillating start to his career here, has played for five teams in his last five seasons.

Wacha is having his best season since 2017 by Fangraphs wins above replacement. He’s cut his fastball usage in half since his early years with St. Louis and now throws his changeup most commonly.

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The Cardinals are 68-87, last in the NL Central and 20 games out of first. St. Louis has lost its last two series before heading to San Diego.

The Padres had their eight-game win streak snapped Saturday by the Cardinals and are 76-79, fourth in the NL West. San Diego is five games out of a wild-card spot and would have to leapfrog three teams to get there.

Lineups

4. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF

Injury report

LHP JoJo Romero (irritated knee tendon): Left the team to attend to a family matter near Los Angeles and had to skip a scheduled bullpen session that was supposed to be the prelude to his return in the Milwaukee series. It is unknown now when the lefty will next throw, and if it does not happen in Milwaukee there may not be enough time for him to appear in a game. The Cardinals placed their closer on the injured list Sept. 5, backdated to Sept. 2. (Updated Sept. 24) 

C Willson Contreras (left wrist tendinitis): The Cardinals placed Contreras on the 10-day injured list on Friday, ending his season. Had imaging taken of the left wrist after leaving Wednesday’s game because pain rippled through the joint on a swing. (Updated Sept. 22)

3B Nolan Arenado (lower back spasms): The Cardinals placed Arenado on the 10-day injured list on Friday, ending his season. (Updated Sept. 22)

OF Dylan Carlson (left ankle, left oblique): Will not return this season; he underwent ankle surgery on Sept 19 in Charlotte, North Carolina. That surgery also removed bone spurs in the joint that had limited his range of motion and caused pain for much of the season. (Updated Sept. 21) 

OF/1B Alec Burleson (fractured left thumb): Will not return this season after breaking his thumb while sliding into third base. He had thumb surgery to place a pin in the thumb and promote healing on Sept. 20. (Updated Sept. 20).

RHP Wilking Rodriguez (right shoulder): Received an anti-inflammatory shot in his shoulder to tame renewed discomfort and swelling. He is slated to throw a side session on Sept. 23. Time is running short for him to potentially make an appearance in the majors at all this season. (Updated Sept. 20)

RHP Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder tendinitis): Reliever will not throw again this season due to the issue in his right shoulder that was making is recovery from appearances difficult and requiring more days to recover each times. Gallegos, on the IL with an arm injury for the first time in his career with the Cardinals, will rest the shoulder, receive some anti-inflammatory treatments, and prepare to be ready for spring training. (Updated Sept. 19)

OF Tyler O’Neill (right foot sprain): A season interrupted multiple times by injuries will end with one as the Cardinals do not expect O’Neill to return from the foot pain that put him back on the injured list. He had intensified his workouts and met with doctors, but the decision was made as the Cardinals left St. Louis for O’Neill to prepare for the offseason, not a return in the final home stand.. (Updated Sept. 24)

INF Nolan Gorman (right hamstring strain): Slugger has been working to return to the lineup for the final stretch of games, but the Cardinals feel the window is too small and the benefit too minimal to have him push to be back in the lineup. The club does not expect him to appear again, shifting instead to preparing for the offseason. (Updated Sept. 24)

LHP Steven Matz (left lat strain): Will not return this season. He is going to attempt to throw some bullpens during the final two weeks of the season in hopes that he has some throws on his arm before going into a normal offseason of rest, preparation, and arm-strengthening. (Updated Sept. 21)

‘It’s kind of meant to be,’ says teammate after veteran throws seven scoreless innings in taut 1-0 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium. 

It was fitting that the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright pitched a vintage performance to get win No. 200 — as if it was to represent so many of the other 199.

Catcher Willson Contreras provides the lone run as Wainwright pitches seven scoreless innings to claim the 200th win of his career, joining Jesse Haines and Bob Gibson in club history.

Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras was proud to have played a part in Adam Wainwright’s 200th victory on Monday night.

Cardinals veteran Adam Wainwright (appearing with his son, Caleb) talks about his 200th career win after he and the Cardinals shut out Milwauk…

Adam Wainwright speaks to the media after securing the 200th win of his career. Video by David Carson, Post-Dispatch

Cardinal pitcher Adam Wainwright gets win No. 200 as a solo shot by Willson Contreras secured the 1-0 game against the Brewers in the first of…

Veteran right-hander pitches well, gets longer look with tie game in Atlanta before solo homers capsize game, leave him stuck (again) at 198 career wins.

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright moved within one win of 200 for his career.

“I just think this thing is so awesome, if he can nail this down,” said Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, a teammate of Adam Wainwright in 2009.

The team reached new depths, and the right-hander’s losing streak hit nine consecutive as the Pirates won, 6-3. He knows what has to happen before No. 200. Start with 199.

Balloons and ribbons are not needed for the grueling end of the veteran’s marathon run, but he shouldn’t have to shoulder blame that largely belongs elsewhere.

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