St. Louis @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 13, 2016 ) St. Louis 4, LA Dodgers 8

Los Angeles right fielder Yasiel Puig emerged from a funk with three hits — including a home run — in the series opener against St. Louis and the Dodgers hope increased production is on the horizon as they enter Saturday's contest against the visiting Cardinals. Puig was just 3-for-24 over the previous seven games before Friday's breakout performance as Los Angeles continues to wait for him to approach his 2013 form.

Puig is batting .244 with just four homers and 14 RBIs and his stellar effort came hours after manager Dave Roberts addressed his issues with reporters. "I think all hitters go through struggles; this might be a little more accentuated or whatever," Roberts told reporters. "And when hitters struggle, I think they're going out of the strike zone. I think we've seen in three years that he's been hot and he's been cold. But, yeah, I think he can be better and he can be more patient outside the zone." Puig fueled the 8-4 victory that marked the fifth in seven games for the Dodgers, while St. Louis lost for the first time on a six-game road trip after opening it with a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels. Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday had two singles Friday and is 9-for-19 with three homers, five RBIs and five runs scored over the past four games.

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (4-2, 2.61 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Scott Kazmir (2-3, 5.54)

Martinez is making his first start since May 6 after being pushed back in the rotation because of a bout with the flu. He left his last outing against the Pirates after 3 1/3 innings due to the illness and has lost two straight starts after winning his first four. Martinez is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against Los Angeles and has struggled with Puig (3-for-5) while handcuffing Adrian Gonzalez (1-for-10).

Kazmir has lost three of his last four decisions, including falling to the New York Mets in his last outing. He allowed four runs (three earned) and six hits in 5 2/3 innings against New York and has given up fewer than three earned runs in just two of his seven starts. Kazmir is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA in two career starts against St. Louis and has experienced difficulties retiring Holliday (4-for-9, two homers).

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals SS Aledmys Diaz is 12-for-31 over the past eight contests but he had more errors (three) than hits (two, including his sixth homer of the year) in the series opener.

2. Gonzalez has gone 19 consecutive games without hitting a home run.

3. St. Louis C Yadier Molina has two or more hits in four straight games and is 10-for-20 during a five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2