St. Louis @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2012 ) Arizona 2, St. Louis 1

The St. Louis Cardinals always seem to find a way to make the playoffs, but reaching the postseason in 2013 could prove more difficult. The Cardinals begin their quest for a third straight playoff appearance when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday for the start of a three-game series. St. Louis will be without No. 1 starter Chris Carpenter, whose career could be over because of right arm and shoulder trouble, and shortstop Rafael Furcal, who had Tommy John elbow surgery March 15 and is expected to be ready for the 2014 season.

The Diamondbacks finished .500 and third in the National League West last season behind the world champion San Francisco Giants and the free-spending Los Angeles Dodgers. Arizona can improve its standing if the pitching staff, led by Ian Kennedy, Trevor Cahill and Wade Miley - a close runner-up in NL Rookie of the Year voting to Bryce Harper last season - reaches its potential. Offensively, the Diamondbacks will need another strong year from outfielder Jason Kubel (career-high 30 homers in 2012) and newly acquired third baseman Martin Prado (.301, 70 RBIs), who came from Atlanta in the Justin Upton trade.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ESPN2, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), Fox Sports Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (2012: 14-13, 3.94 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (15-12, 4.02)

Without the vocal Carpenter, Wainwright is the clear ace of the staff, and will lead more by example. He also has experience under the Opening Day microscope, earning the assignment in 2009. Wainwright won his only 2012 start against Arizona and is 5-3 lifetime with a 2.54 ERA in 46 innings against the Diamondbacks. The 31-year-old Brunswick, Ga., native has a career mark of 36-22 on the road, but was 4-7 away from Busch Stadium last season.

Kennedy finished 2012 strong on the heels of his eye-opening 21-4 season of 2011. The Diamondbacks will need another strong year out of Kennedy, who is 1-3 lifetime against the Cardinals and lost both starts last season. The 28-year-old Huntington Beach, Calif., native is tough to beat at home - he was 8-4 at Chase Field in 2012 (one of the losses was to St. Louis) and 19-6 over the past two seasons.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pete Kozma, who turns 25 on April 11, will take Furcal's place. He has a .303 career average in 42 career games (89 at-bats).

2. St. Louis was 5-1 against Arizona in 2012, including 3-0 at Chase Field.

3. The Cardinals' under-over win total in Las Vegas is 85.5 while the Diamondbacks are listed at 81.5.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 3, Cardinals 2