CJ Abrams joins 30-30 club as Nationals rout Cardinals 9-1

ST. LOUIS (AP) — CJ Abrams became the 52nd player to join the 30-30 club, Cade Cavalli threw his 200th strikeout of the year, and the Washington Nationals took down the St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 on Friday night.

Abrams joined the Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong as the only players to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases this season. He is just the second National to do it, joining Alfonso Soriano in 2006.

Cavalli (13-5) struck out the side in the first, and finished with six strikeouts and four hits in five innings of work.

His 200th strikeout came on his final pitch of the night, and he became the fifth Nationals pitcher with a 200-strikeout season — joining Patrick Corbin, Gio Gonzalez, Max Scherzer, and Stephen Strasburg — just hours after inking a four-year, $47 million contract extension.

The Nats scored three runs in the first, started by Abrams' RBI single. Abrams then stole his 30th base, and an errant throw from Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal let Dylan Crews come around to score. Brady House added an RBI groundout before the end of the frame.

Crews started a four-run third with his 12th homer of the season, a two-run shot to right, and Yohandy Morales added a two-run double.

Daylen Lile hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth and James Wood had an RBI double in the sixth to round out the scoring.

Bernal had two hits for the Cardinals. Kyle Leahy (10-5) allowed a season-high seven runs (six earned) on five hits. He walked three and struck out one.

With the loss, St. Louis was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

Nats LHP Andrew Alvarez (2-6, 3.35 ERA) faces Cardinals RHP Michael McGreevy (7-9, 3.83) as the series continues on Saturday.

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St. Louis Cardinals' Victor Scott II is unable to catch a foul ball hit by Washington Nationals' Harry Ford during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Cardinals' Bryan Torres catches a sacrifice fly hit by Washington Nationals' Daylen Lile during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Washington Nationals' Daylen Lile, left, congratulates Dylan Crews (3) at home after Crews hit a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams, right, follows through on an RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

HOUSTON (AP) — Michael Harris II, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson each hit a two-run homer as the Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night.

The Braves secured at least a National League wild card and reduced their magic number to three for winning the NL East. Atlanta is heading to the postseason for the eighth time in nine years.

The loss dropped Houston's lead in the AL West over Texas to a half-game game, with the Rangers hosting Toronto on Friday night.

Olson hit his 40th home run in the ninth inning to make him the fifth player in franchise history with multiple 40-homer seasons after he set a Braves record with 54 in 2023.

Harris, who had three hits, gave the Braves a 2-0 lead with his homer off Peter Lambert (8-10) in the fourth. They were clinging to a one-run lead with one on and one out in the seventh when Acuña connected off Bennett Sousa to make it 4-1.

The Astros had runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth when an RBI single by Isaac Paredes cut the lead to 4-2. Jose Altuve hit a flyball to shallow right field but Acuña made a diving catch to end the inning.

Tyler Mahle (7-10) allowed three hits and a run with six strikeouts in six innings to help the Braves to their second win in five games.

Lambert yielded six hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings. He remained winless since July 11.

Olson singled with one out in the fourth before Harris put the Braves on top with his shot to the seats in left field.

Yordan Alvarez got Houston’s first hit on a double with no outs in the fourth. The Astros cut the lead to one when he scored on a single by Paredes.

Houston had runners at first and third with one out in the inning, but Mahle retired Christian Walker on a flyout to shallow center and Taylor Trammell on a groundout to escape the jam.

Atlanta RHP Grant Holmes (9-5, 3.49 ERA) opposes RHP Hayden Wesneski (5-2, 3.70) when the series continues Saturday night.

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Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh leaves the mound during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. tosses his bat after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)