St. Louis @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 14, 2019 ) Arizona 2, St. Louis 5

The St. Louis Cardinals marked their return to the postseason in just about the most satisfying manner they could ask for, sweeping four straight at the archrival Chicago Cubs over the weekend - all by one run. They will try to maintain the momentum from the dramatic sweep when they open a three-game road trip at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.

"It kind of seems that we've got the magic going," rookie infielder Tommy Edman told reporters after a 3-2 win Sunday gave St. Louis its first four-game sweep at Wrigley Field since 1921 and clinched its first playoff berth since 2015. "At any point, we know we're not out of it." Paul Goldschmidt had the decisive RBI in Sunday's win and the Cardinals slugger will be making his first trip back to Arizona, where he was a six-time All-Star. St. Louis owns a three-game advantage over Milwaukee in the National League Central as it visits Phoenix, where it has won 10 of 14 meetings over the last four seasons. Adam Wainwright is 4-0 during a dominant September and he'll look to continue his run when he starts the series opener for the Cardinals against Alex Young and the Diamondbacks, whose postseason chances hang by a thread following Sunday's 6-4 loss at San Diego.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (13-9, 3.83 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Alex Young (7-4, 3.27)

Wainwright has allowed two runs over 27 innings during his winning streak and St. Louis has won 12 of his last 14 starts. One of those 12 victories came July 14 against Arizona, as the veteran tossed seven scoreless innings while striking out seven. He is 9-5 with a 2.70 ERA in his career against the Diamondbacks.

Since throwing eight scoreless innings and striking out 12 at Cincinnati on Sept. 7, Young has given up eight runs (two earned) and 10 hits with six walks in 7 2/3 frames over two starts. He issued a season-high four free passes over five innings in a no-decision against Miami on Tuesday. The 26-year-old rookie will be facing the Cardinals for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Goldschmidt is a .289 hitter with 99 home runs in 546 career games at Arizona's Chase Field.

2. Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong has a Grade 2 strain on his left hamstring and is hoping to return for the team's final series.

3. Arizona has 213 home runs, third most in club history behind the 2017 team (220) and 1999 squad (216).

PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Diamondbacks 4