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Mikolas takes the mound Tuesday for the Cardinals at 9:10 p.m. (St. Louis time) in the second game of three vs. the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

The Cardinals held on for a 3-2 win in Monday's opener.

The right-hander Mikolas (6-8, 4.83 ERA) has averaged 94.9 miles per hour on his fastball in his last two games, which is faster than in any game since 2018. He has gained about three miles per vs. that pitch's average velocity earlier this season.

With 25 pitches at 95mph or faster in those last two games, it's Mikolas' most in two games since 2019. Seven of them were 96mph or faster.

Batters are hitting .200 against that four seamer in those last two games, and though the pitch movement remains similar, it's generating less whiff so far in that small sample size.

That speedier fastball has helped Mikolas put up a 1.64 ERA over his last two starts. 

Mikolas will need his full arsenal Tuesday. LA is the most productive team in baseball against the fastball. He has also added velocity on his breaking pitches in recent games, also generating better results on those.

Mikolas has been burned by home run regularly in 2025, and in home games, Los Angeles leads baseball with 100 homers.

Right-hander Emmet Sheehan (2-2, 3.60 ERA) will start for the Dodgers. He hasn't gone more than five innings or thrown more than 80 pitches in any of his big-league starts this season.

St. Louis is 57-57. A win in either of the final two games would give the Cardinals the season series win over the Dodgers for the first time since 2019.

The Dodgers lead the National League West by three games with a 65-48 mark but are 9-16 since July 4.

How to watch Cardinals at Dodgers

When: 9:10 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles

TV/radio: FanDuel ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Network Midwest (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .

Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.

Lineups

CARDINALS

1. Brendan Donovan, 2B

2. Iván Herrera, DH

3. Alec Burleson, LF

4. Willson Contreras, 1B

5. Lars Nootbaar, CF

6. Masyn Winn, SS

7. Nolan Gorman, 3B

8. Yohel Pozo, C

9. Jordan Walker, RF

P: Miles Mikolas, RHP

DODGERS

1. Shohei Ohtani, DH

2. Mookie Betts, SS

3. Freddie Freeman, 1B

4. Max Muncy, 3B

5. Teoscar Hernández, RF

6. Michael Conforto, LF

7. Andy Pages, CF

8. Alex Freeland, 2B

9. Dalton Rushing, C

P: Emmet Sheehan, RHP

Injury report

John King, LHP (left oblique strain): King was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 30 after he left the previous night's game in the middle of an at-bat with left side tightness. Updated July 30

Nolan Arenado, 3B (right shoulder strain): Arenado went on the 10-day injured list Aug. 1 with a shoulder injury he’s spent the past month trying to play through. There is no timetable for his return. Updated Aug. 1

Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter could begin a throwing program next week, Marmol said. Thompson has been sidelined since the start of March and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in early April. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated July 24