Arizona @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2013 ) Arizona 1, St. Louis 7
The St. Louis Cardinals look to improve upon their major league-best record Tuesday as they continue their four-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. St. Louis improved to 38-19 by posting a 7-1 triumph in Monday's opener of the set between division leaders. The Cardinals, who sit atop the National League Central, have won seven of their last nine contests.
Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina combined for two home runs and five RBIs while Lance Lynn worked seven strong innings for St. Louis, which has not lost consecutive games since dropping three straight from April 27-29. Molina was in the lineup after appealing the one-game suspension he received from the league for making contact with an umpire Sunday. The NL West-leading Diamondbacks are 2-3 on their eight-game road trip.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Tyler Skaggs (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (0-0, 1.29)
Skaggs will be making his second start of the season and the eighth of his major-league career. The 21-year-old was superb in his season debut against the Texas Rangers on May 27, limiting one of the American League's top offensive teams to three hits and three walks while striking out nine over six scoreless innings. Skaggs, who never has faced the Cardinals, yielded six runs over eight frames in two road starts last year - his only two no-decisions in the majors.
Wacha impressed in his major-league debut Thursday, allowing one run and two hits in seven innings against the Kansas City Royals. The 21-year-old struck out six without issuing a walk, but did not factor in the decision. Wacha was the 19th overall pick in last year's draft.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona LHP Patrick Corbin was named National League Pitcher of the Month for May on Monday after going 5-0 with a 1.53 ERA in five starts.
2. RHP Joe Kelly will make a spot start Wednesday as St. Louis' rotation was disrupted by Friday's rainout.
3. Diamondbacks 3B Martin Prado's eight-game hitting streak ended Monday after his 0-for-4 performance.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Diamondbacks 4