Dbacks vs Cardinals Preview: Night of Pitching Heroics

Eduardo Rodriguez is Arizona's starting pitcher tonight, and he's been steady all season. His ERA sits at 2.66, which is really solid. That means he's not giving up too many runs. Rodriguez has 18 strikeouts so far. He can shut down hitters when he's on his game. The Diamondbacks need him to be sharp tonight. Arizona is struggling right now with three losses in a row. Getting a strong start from Rodriguez could flip the script. The Cardinals just won two straight games. This matchup will test whether Rodriguez can keep St. Louis's bats quiet.

St. Louis won 3-2 yesterday at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals scored twice in the fourth inning alone. That quick burst gave them breathing room. Arizona fought back hard in the late innings. Troy hit a home run that rocketed 444 feet to center field. The ball flew forever. But the Diamondbacks couldn't quite catch up. St. Louis's defense made key plays when it mattered most. Kyle Leahy will pitch for the Cardinals tonight. He gets to take the ball at home. Momentum is on St. Louis's side right now after winning two straight.

The Diamondbacks are banged up heading into this game. Jordan Lawlar is out with a hamstring strain. Michael Soroka went down with a glute injury. Ryne Nelson has a torn flexor tendon. James McCann is healing from a quad injury. These absences hurt Arizona's depth and lineup. St. Louis has fewer injury problems right now. That's a big advantage for the Cardinals at home. Arizona needs to find ways to win without all its pieces. Getting contributions from backup players becomes crucial. If Rodriguez pitches lights-out, the Diamondbacks stay in this game despite being shorthanded.