History is on Cardinals starter Andre Pallante's side despite the challenging conditions Friday.
Pallante and the Cardinals come out of the All-Star break Friday night for an 8:40 p.m. (ӣƵ time) first pitch against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix.
Coming off one of his worst starts of the year— seven earned runs in six innings vs. Washington— Pallante hopes to follow the pattern from earlier rough starts.
In his next start after permitting four or more earned runs, Pallante has usually rebounded with a much better outing.
The right-handerPallante (5-5, 4.49 ERA) has been tinkering with his pitch mix in recent games, throwing fewer fastballs and more sliders. The slider is a pitch against which Arizona struggles with a .214 team batting average, while the D'backs rank toward the top of the league in damage against four-seamers.
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Pallante's strength as a groundball getter will clash with Arizona's propensity to put the ball in the air.
Arizona pulls fly balls at a rate that puts the Diamondbacks near the top of the league, and when the Diamondbacks do so, they hit for a 2.104 on-base plus slugging percentage, best in baseball.
In his three starts vs. teams that pull fly balls at similar rates as the Diamondbacks, Pallante limited damage in two of them while struggling mightily in the other.
Chase Field ranks as baseball's fourth-most hitter friendly park, according to .
Arizona will start right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (9-6, 5.16 ERA), a significant part of the team's rotation woes. He and former Cardinals farmhand Zac Gallen each have ERAs north of five while surgery. Arizona has the National League'sfourth-worst starting staff by ERA (4.47).
Coming off an 89-win season last year, the Diamondbacks were expected to be a , but those have Arizona with a sub.-500 record and mulling a trade deadline selloff.The Diamondbacks' strong offense has kept the team near the .500 mark.
Arizona is 47-50, fourth in the National League West.
The Cardinals are 51-46, third in the National League Central and 1 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot. ӣƵ went 4-8 in its last 12 heading into the break, thanks mainly to cracks in the starting rotation. ӣƵ starters have a 6.67 ERA since June 30.
Jordan Walker activated, Thomas Saggese sent down
Before the game, the Cardinals activated outfielder Jordan Walker from the 10-day injured list and sent infielder Thomas Saggese back down to Triple-A.
Walker, who was placed on the injured list in late June with appendicitis, hit .146 (7-for-46) in 12 rehab games, most at Double-A Springfield, and was nearing the maximum length for a rehab stint.
He was not in the initial starting lineup Friday but was later added after Nolan Gorman was scratched due to back tightness.
Game also airs on KMOV (Channel 4) and Matrix (Channel 32)
Friday's game, in addition to the usual airing on FanDuel Sports Midwest, also is simulcast on local broadcast television on KMOV (Channel 4) and Matrix Midwest (Channel 32). throughout the Cardinals footprint in six nearby states will also carry the game.
It's one of numerous games this seasonthat are set for local broadcast TV on KMOV and/or Matrix.
How to watch Cardinals at Diamondbacks
When:8:40 p.m. Friday
Where:Chase Field in Phoenix
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (), KMOV (Channel 4), Matrix Midwest (Channel 32) as well as ; KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .
Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.
Lineups
CARDINALS
Note: This lineup has been updated to reflect Nolan Gorman being scratched due to back tightness and Jordan Walker being inserted.
1. Brendan Donovan, 2B
2. Iván Herrera, DH
3. Alec Burleson, LF
4. Willson Contreras, 1B
5. Nolan Arenado, 3B
6. Masyn Winn, SS
7. Jordan Walker, RF
8. Pedro Pagés, C
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Andre Pallante, RHP
DIAMONDBACKS
1. Corbin Carroll, RF
2. Geraldo Perdomo, SS
3. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., LF
4. Josh Naylor, 1B
5. Eugenio Suárez, 3B
6. Adrian Del Castillo, DH
7. Blaze Alexander, 2B
8. Alek Thomas, CF
9. Jose Herrera, C
P:Brandon Pfaadt, RHP
Injury report
Lars Nootbaar, OF (left costochondral sprain): Nootbaar attempted to play through discomfort in his left side in the days leading up to the All-Star break but was forced to exit games early on July 10 and July 12 when the issue flared up before being placed on the 10-day IL on July 13. Since he's dealt with the issue, Nootbaar has reaggravated the injury on check swings. He remained in ӣƵ when the Cardinals began their first road trip of the second half in Arizona. The goal is for Nootbaar to begin a swing progression by Monday back in ӣƵ. Updated July 18
Nolan Gorman, 2B/3B (back tightness): Gorman was scratched from the Cardinals’ starting lineup for their Friday opener in Arizona because of tightness in his back. Before the first half of the season wrapped, Gorman unavailable from the Cardinals’ bench on July 13 after his “lower back locked up on him,” Marmol said. Updated July 18
Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain):Lefty starter has begun a throwing program designed to strengthen his arm after a long stretch without much activity. The shoulder has responded well and Thompson has felt progress with this program, which had to be restarted because his recovery stalled in May. There is no timetable for his return to the mound.Updated June 19
