Diamondbacks vs Cardinals game 1 preview

Time to turn the page on a weekend that was mostly frustrating for the D-backs.  After losing 2 out of 3 against the scrappy Miami Marlins, Arizona will head northwest to take on the talented Red Birds of St Louis.  I hope the Diamondbacks players brought their long sleeves!  It might be a chilly 3 game road trip.

The Diamondbacks still sit atop the NL West with a 9-7 record.  For the Cardinals, they have yet to hit the ground running and are 4th in their division with a 7-9 record.  

Arizona is 20th in runs per game this season and the Cardinals are 21st.  Arizona is 16th in team ERA and the Cardinals are 17th.  It is safe to say that this series will be very evenly matched.

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals game 1 pitching matchup

For your beloved Diamondbacks, Merrill Kelly will get the ball to start the game.  In 3 starts this season, Kelly is 0-2 with a 2.93 ERA.  In his last time out, Kelly carried a no-hitter into the 7th inning; then shortstop Willy Adames hit a home run and everything went downhill from there.  

Despite Kelly’s respectable numbers, things just haven’t gone his way this season.  In fact, in the games Merrill has taken the mound, Arizona’s offense has mustered a combined 5 runs.  1.67 runs per game when Kelly has pitched.  Yikes!

For the Cardinals, Jack Flathery will toe the bump to begin the game.  In 3 starts this year, Flathery has been untouchable.  He boasts a 1-1 record with a 1.76 ERA.  In Flathery’s career, he has been much better at home than on the road.  In his one and only home start this season, he threw 5 scoreless innings against the Blue Jays.

This should be a fun pitching matchup to witness… 

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals game 1: Players to watch

For the D-backs, rookie sensation Corbin Carroll has been… well sensational.  In his last 5 games, Carroll has 7 hits, 2 of those hits being home runs and 2 being doubles.  He also has recorded 4 RBIs, 4 runs, and 1 stolen base.  Over the last 5 games, Carroll has an insanely impressive OPS of 1.157.

For the Red Birds, infielder Nolan Gorman is red hot.  In his last 6 games, Gorman has 8 hits 2 of those hits being home runs and 2 being doubles.  He has also recorded 7 RBIs, 2 runs, and 1 stolen base.  Over the last 6 games, Gorman has been outstanding, flexing an OPS of 1.102.

These two talented youngsters are making this major-league-hitting thing look easy… 

Diamondbacks lineup

Cardinals lineup

Paul Goldschmidt not in the lineup?! Thank the Lord above!

First pitch will be at 4:45 MST.  The game will be aired on Bally Sports Arizona and Bally Sports Midwest.  If you can’t watch the game, you can listen to it on ESPN Phoenix 620, KHOV Univision 105.1, or KMOX 1120.