Cardinals at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies had won seven of their previous nine games before a sluggish start in the finale of their road trip left a sour taste in their mouths. The National League East-leading Phillies aim to get back on track Tuesday when they host the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
Philadelphia's offense, which erupted for 22 runs in its previous three games, was limited to just one hit -- albeit a solo homer by Andrew Knapp -- before dropping a 9-1 setback to Milwaukee on Sunday. Bryce Harper, who has struck out five times during his 0-for-7 stretch, belted a grand slam among his two hits in the Phillies' 11-1 romp in St. Louis on May 7. The Cardinals lost two of three in that series and did the same in their most recent one, as they squandered a three-run lead in the ninth inning before dropping a 4-3 decision in 10 to Atlanta on Sunday. "This one stings a little more than most," St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. "When you get to that point in the game, we've just got to be able to figure a way to bring it home."
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest (St. Louis), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (4-4, 4.82 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (2-1, 8.35)
Wainwright answered an 0-2 mark in his last three starts by evening his record on Wednesday after allowing three runs on six hits in five innings of a 10-3 win versus Kansas City. The 37-year-old has struggled with his control of late, permitting nine walks in his last two starts (nine innings). Offseason acquisitions Jean Segura (10-for-22, homer) and Harper (9-for-20, homer) have flustered Wainwright, who owns a 7-2 mark with a 2.90 ERA in 15 career encounters (13 starts) against Philadelphia.
Pivetta will return to the starting rotation for the first time since April 16 after being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 26-year-old British Columbia native was rocked for 18 runs and 31 hits -- including five homers -- in his first four starts of the season with the Phillies before working out the kinks with the IronPigs. Pivetta struck out 50 in 37 innings in Triple-A to show signs of the form he exhibited when he fanned 188 in 33 appearances with Philadelphia last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis 1B Paul Goldschmidt went 1-for-11 with four strikeouts in the previous series versus Philadelphia.
2. Segura has hit safely in 15 of 16 games since going 1-for-14 in the previous series with the Cardinals.
3. St. Louis C Yadier Molina is expected to play in the series opener despite bruising his right thumb on Sunday.