St. Louis @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 1, 2013 ) St. Louis 2, Arizona 6

Like most Major League Baseball teams, the St. Louis Cardinals will rely on pitching to help them realize their dreams. Without ace Chris Carpenter, though, the Cardinals will need everyone to pick up the slack, including Jaime Garcia. The 26-year-old left-hander will try to validate a strong spring training when he faces the host Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. The Cardinals were impressed enough to make Garcia the No. 2 starter behind Adam Wainwright.

Garcia also has the opportunity to become a stopper as Arizona won 6-2 on Monday for its seventh straight victory on Opening Day. The Diamondbacks, who are trying to build more of a contact-hitting team, got off to a good start by recording 15 hits - with Gerardo Parra belting three of Arizona's seven doubles. Right-hander Trevor Cahill, who showed up for spring training 15 pounds lighter, will try to match Ian Kennedy's solid performance on Monday.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), Fox Sports Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (2012: 7-7, 3.92 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Trevor Cahill (13-12, 3.78)

Garcia struggled through shoulder problems last season, but his spring training numbers - 2.48 ERA, 28 hits, five walks and 24 strikeouts in 29 innings - have the Cardinals optimistic he can return to the form that produced 13 victories in each of 2010 and 2011. St. Louis also hopes Garcia can eclipse his career high of 194 2/3 innings set in 2011. Garcia has won both career starts against Arizona and the Diamondbacks' roster has six hits in 32 at-bats against him.

Cahill was also impressive in spring training, posting a 1.86 ERA, while allowing 16 hits, five walks and striking out 25 in 19 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old native of Oceanside, Calif., has averaged nearly 196 innings in his four-year career. Cahill has two no-decisions in two career starts against the Cardinals - allowing one run in six innings against them last season. St. Louis' Matt Holliday (2-for-6, two homers) has been tough on Cahill.

WALK-OFFS

1. 3B Martin Prado had two doubles and an RBI in his Arizona debut Monday.

2. St. Louis' Yadier Molina and Arizona's Miguel Montero were second and third, respectively, in the majors in throwing out would-be basestealers last season. Molina threw out Parra on Monday.

3. Pete Kozma became the first rookie shortstop to start for the Cardinals on Opening Day since Ray Busse in 1973. Kozma replaced Rafael Furcal, who was lost for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 3, Diamondbacks 2.