Diamondbacks at Cardinals
Both the Arizona Diamondbacks and host St. Louis Cardinals are lurking just behind the wild-card leaders in the National League as they emerge from the All-Star break to play the opener of a three-game series Friday night. The Diamondbacks swept three games from Colorado prior to the All-Star break to get back above .500 and to within 1 1/2 games of a wild-card spot.
The Cardinals are a half-game behind them and just two games out in the NL Central after dropping their final two contests prior to the break. St. Louis first baseman Paul Goldschmidt will get his first taste of action against Arizona, the team he starred for from 2011 through 2018 before being traded to the Cardinals last offseason. The six-time All-Star was a disappointment in the first half with a .254 average - 40 points below his career mark - and will try to get going against former teammate Robbie Ray. St. Louis counters with veteran Adam Wainwright as it looks to snap a three-game home losing streak.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (6-6, 3.96 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (5-7, 4.31)
Ray went into the break on a good note after limiting Colorado to a run and two hits over six innings last Saturday. He struck out eight in the outing and has 137 punchouts in just 104 2/3 innings. The Tennessee native owns a 6.10 ERA in five career starts against the Cardinals, but he's let up only two earned runs in 12 2/3 frames at Busch Stadium.
Wainwright has gone four straight starts without a win, although he's allowed three runs or fewer each time. He is 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA in eight starts at home, including 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball with nine strikeouts against Oakland on June 26. The Georgia native is 8-5 with a 2.95 ERA in his career against the Diamondbacks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong was held out of Sunday's game against San Francisco with calf tightness but he is expected to play Friday.
2. Diamondbacks 1B Christian Walker has three homers and 10 RBIs during his current five-game hitting streak.
3. Arizona is 6-4 in St. Louis over the past three seasons.