Game: St. Louis Cardinals @ Arizona Diamondbacks
Time: 9:40 p.m.
Odds: Cardinals -110, Diamondbacks -110
Total: 9
While playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Paul Goldschmidt always looked forward to hitting at Chase Field. That hasn’t changed since he joined the St. Louis Cardinals. On Monday, Goldschmidt had a three-RBI night that included a huge home run in the first game of this series. Tonight in Phoenix, the reigning National League MVP is looking to cause more harm.
Goldschmidt hit his 104th home run at Chase FIeld since it opened in 1998 with a two-run blast on Monday. He is the only player to have 100 or more homers at Chase Field. Since being traded to the Cardinals before the 2019 season, he has hit five home runs in 11 games at the ballpark, including the 444-foot shot over the high wall in center last night. Before the trade, he spent eight seasons with Arizona.
St. Louis scored five runs in the ninth inning to secure a 10-6 victory, and Goldschmidt also hit the go-ahead single. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Cardinals. Goldschmidt played in six of his seven All-Star games while he was a member of the Diamondbacks.
His former team has lost 13 of its last 17 games and suffered five straight defeats. Evan Longoria’s pinch-hit, two-run double gave Arizona a 6-5 lead last night, which they held going into the ninth inning. Left-hander Andrew Chafin was called upon by a team that has struggled with its bullpen for the majority of the season, and he failed to seal the deal for the fourth time in his last 12 chances.
Chafin walked Lars Nootbaar after Goldschmidt singled with the bases loaded to tie the game. Then, against Kevin Ginkel, Tyler O’Neill doubled in three runs to empty the bases.
Prior to Tuesday’s game, Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (9-4, 3.22 ERA) is expected to be activated and make his first start since June 24. Kelly’s blood clot in his left leg has kept him on the 15-day injured list.
In five starts against St. Louis in his career, Kelly is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA. Goldschmidt (1-for-9) was easy for him to handle, but Willson Contreras (4-for-7, one home run, three doubles) was a challenge. Nolan Arenado is 4-for-13 with a home run against Kelly. He hit a home run on Monday.
For the Cardinals on Tuesday, left-hander Steven Matz (1-7, 4.67) will get the start. Last Thursday against the Chicago Cubs, Matz earned his first victory of the season after giving up one run and three hits over five innings. In five starts against the Diamondbacks in his career, Matz, 32, is 2-1 with a 3.77 ERA. In five at-bats against Matz, Longoria has hit two home runs, and Ketel Marte (3-for-12) has also done the same.
The Cardinals are 7-3 in their last ten games and 6-2 in their last eight against Arizona. The Diamondbacks have struggled lately dropping five straight. They are only 2-7 in their last nine games at home and they have just one win the last eight times they have hosted the Cardinals.
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