(Photo credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

Many observers thought the 2026 St. Louis Cardinals' season basically would be over by the dog days of summer.

That still might happen, but the only barking heard around St. Louis' dugout these days is by the players after a homer or another win.

Friday night's 6-0 victory at the San Diego Padres was the Cardinals' ninth triumph in 11 games, and St. Louis will attempt to win again in the four-game series on Saturday.

The Cardinals won the opener on Thursday, 2-1, and took the Friday game behind the one-hit pitching of starter Michael McGreevy and two relievers.

One of the youngest rosters in the majors is having some fun, too, especially as the St. Louis players have found a way to celebrate great plays. The Cardinals have taken the phrase 'got that dawg in me' to another level as rookie outfielder Nathan Church literally woofed to celebrate a series win on opening weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays in March.

Now Church and his teammates bark to celebrate homers and present long-ball hitters with a fake gold chain.

'We've got a bunch of young guys trying to prove themselves in this game, and we're trying to pull on the same string and win as many games as we can,' Church said.

It's working. The Cardinals have not only won six straight road games but own series wins against teams that include the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

'I feel like we're having fun with everything we're doing, and that's really a big key for us this season,' said catcher Ivan Herrera, who had four hits Friday night.

Right-hander Dustin May (3-3, 5.15 ERA) will try to keep the dominant mound performances for the St. Louis pitching staff in order. Tasked with following in the footsteps of Matthew Liberatore and McGreevy, a duo that combined to give up only four hits over 12 innings in the series' first two games, May will aim to bounce back from a 4-1 Sunday loss to the Dodgers.

Facing his former team for the first time, May allowed seven hits and three runs over six innings with two walks and three strikeouts. He's 2-4 with a 3.80 ERA in 13 career games (10 starts) against San Diego.

The Padres will counter with right-hander Randy Vasquez (3-1, 3.20 ERA), who's coming off a 3-2 loss to the Giant on Monday in San Francisco. Vasquez permitted three runs on five hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings, striking out two. He's 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in three career starts against St. Louis.

His loss to the Giants aside, Vasquez is on pace for the best season in his four-year MLB career.

'Getting into that rhythm, ever since the work I put in in spring training, it's worked in my favor,' he said through an interpreter. 'I think I've established a good rhythm so far.'

Given the team's feeble showing at the plate in this series, Vasquez may have to throw a shutout to have a shot at a win. San Diego has just five hits in the series, none for extra bases, and hasn't scored since the first inning of the 2-1 loss on Thursday.

Friday night brought the Padres' seventh loss in the past 10 games, but center fielder Jackson Merrill said he believes the offensive funk will conclude soon.

'Every team goes through it,' he said. 'You've seen us do it. We know it's in there. I think it's just a matter of time.'

--Field Level Media