St. Louis @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2018 ) St. Louis 6, Arizona 3

After enduring a disappointing homestand, the St. Louis Cardinals got their nine-game road trip off to a good start. The Cardinals attempt to clinch a series victory when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set.

St. Louis, which dropped the final four contests of its six-game homestand, began its trek with a four-run first inning on Monday and rode to a 6-3 victory. Yadier Molina homered and drove in three runs while Jedd Gyorko also went deep and notched a pair of RBIs for the Cardinals, who allowed at least five runs in each game during their slide. Arizona's 8-2 road trip is a distant memory as the club has lost the first four contests of its 10-game homestand. Paul Goldschmidt registered four of the Diamondbacks' nine hits for his second performance with at least three hits in five games and also drove in a run while David Peralta notched a pair to improve to 6-for-16 during his four-game hitting streak.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (3-3, 2.92 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (8-5, 3.41)

Flaherty is coming off a loss to Cleveland on Wednesday in which he yielded four runs on six hits - two homers - and two walks in four innings. The 22-year-old Californian was superb in his previous three turns, going 1-0 while allowing two runs and six hits with 26 strikeouts over 18 1/3 frames. Flaherty will be facing the Diamondbacks for the first time in his career.

Greinke helped Arizona go 8-2 on its recent road trip by winning all three of his starts on the trek. The 34-year-old Floridian allowed three runs over 19 1/3 innings on the trip after being tagged by Pittsburgh for five runs on five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 frames in his last turn at home. Greinke fell to 12-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 19 career appearances (17 starts) against the Cardinals on April 7, when he yielded five runs and nine hits in five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Diamondbacks OF A.J. Pollock (thumb) returned from the disabled list Monday and went 0-for-4 but scored a run.

2. St. Louis placed Dexter Fowler on the paternity list and recalled fellow OF Tyler O'Neill from Triple-A Memphis.

3. Arizona purchased the contract of RHP Joey Krehbiel from Triple-A Reno, optioned 1B Christian Walker and RHP Silvino Bracho to the Aces and released RHP Troy Scribner.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Cardinals 4