Arizona @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 28, 2016 ) St. Louis 0, Arizona 3

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Stephen Piscotty is enjoying a month to remember, and that could spell bad news for an Arizona Diamondbacks club that he shredded in April. Piscotty looks to continue his torrid stretch at the expense of the Diamondbacks on Friday when the teams open a three-game series at Busch Stadium.

Piscotty collected his second straight three-hit performance in Thursday's 13-7 triumph over Colorado, improving his May totals to 26-for-70 (.371) with 13 runs scored and 10 RBIs. The 25-year-old's recent heroics aided the Cardinals in claiming two of three from the Rockies and his nine-hit, six-RBI, six-run performance helped his club split a four-game series with Arizona from April 25-28. The Diamondbacks took two of three from the New York Yankees to put a positive spin on what began as a disastrous homestand following a four-game sweep by National League West-rival San Francisco. Arizona, which enjoyed only its second day off in the last 38 days on Thursday, hopes the rest did it some good when it faces Friday starter Carlos Martinez.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (1-3, 4.14 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (4-3, 3.14)

Corbin saw his winless stretch extend to five starts on Saturday despite allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings of a no-decision versus the Giants. The 26-year-old has pitched well in his last three outings following a disastrous stint on April 27 against St. Louis, versus which he was ripped for a season-high seven runs on as many hits in 5 2/3 frames of an 11-4 setback. Corbin was taken deep once in that contest and has served up nine homers in 50 innings this season.

Martinez has seen the bottom fall out after a brilliant start to the season, yielding nine runs on 15 hits - including three homers - en route to an 0-3 mark in his last three starts. The 24-year-old Dominican has struggled with his control of late, issuing three walks in each of his last two outings. Martinez looks to rebound versus Arizona, against which he improved to 2-0 in his career on April 26 after scattering three hits over eight scoreless innings in an 8-2 triumph.

WALK-OFFS

1. Like Piscotty, Arizona LF Brandon Drury is enjoying a solid month by going 22-for-67 (.328).

2. Cardinals C Yadier Molina hit safely in all four contests versus the Diamondbacks last month as part of his 11-game hitting streak.

3. Diamondbacks LF Yasmany Tomas is 4-for-23 (.174) in his last seven contests.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Diamondbacks 2