Philadelphia @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 21, 2013 ) St. Louis 3, Philadelphia 7

Two of the league's most promising rookie pitchers square off Tuesday when the St. Louis Cardinals host the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series. The Cardinals, who hold a 1 1/2-game lead over Pittsburgh atop the National League Central, send Shelby Miller to the mound for the first time in 13 days to oppose fellow right-hander Jonathan Pettibone. The Phillies, sitting seven games behind Atlanta in the NL East, look to get their offense back on track after being blanked by Matt Harvey and the New York Mets on Sunday.

Philadelphia dropped two of three at New York to begin its nine-game road trip, dropping a game below .500 in the process. St. Louis started the second half by taking two of three from San Diego over the weekend to improve to 29-17 at home, where it has won seven of its last eight. The teams split a four-game series in Philadelphia from April 18-21.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, PHL 17 (Philadelphia), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jonathan Pettibone (5-3, 3.89 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Shelby Miller (9-6, 2.92)

Pettibone has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last five starts since his last loss June 15 at Colorado. He didn't get a decision in his last start going into the break, allowing three runs over six innings against the White Sox. The 23-year-old has never faced St. Louis.

Miller had a couple rough outings at the end of June and he struggled with his command in his last start before the break, walking five and allowing three runs over five innings against Houston. The 22-year-old has been tremendous at home, though, posting a 5-2 record and a 1.93 ERA in nine starts. Miller has never pitched against the Phillies.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis has won the season series from Philadelphia only once since 2001. The Phillies have claimed the series seven times during that span and the teams have split three times.

2. Cardinals 1B/OF Allen Craig is 12-for-31 during a seven-game hitting streak.

3. Phillies OF Domonic Brown, who leads the team with 24 home runs, is 3-for-25 with no home runs in nine career games against St. Louis.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Phillies 3