Sonny Gray's task Saturday is a one that has rarely been asked of the veteran right-hander.
Gray and the Cardinals continue a road series at Arizona with Saturday's 6:15 p.m. first pitch at Chase Field.
ӣƵ lost Friday's opener 7-3 in a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated.
For Gray(9-3, 3.50 ERA), 12 of his 19 starts have come at home at the friendly surroundings of Busch Stadium.
What's more, of his seven road starts, four have come against teams that rank in the bottom six of baseball in on-base plus slugging percentage. Handling a strong offense away from Busch is not something that has been asked of Gray much this season.
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Arizona has the third-best OPS in baseball and plays in one of the most hitter-friendly parks, which was apparent Friday when the D-backs scored six runs off starter Andre Pallante.
In Gray's three road starts vs. teams with offenses that aren't among baseball's worst, he has a 10.29 ERA.
His two worst starts of the season, at Philadelphia and at Milwaukee, have come in those games.
Overall, Gray's home ERA (2.84) is far better than his mark on the road (4.57), and batters are hitting .249 against him on the road vs. .227 at home.
Despite pitching 62% of his innings at home this year, six of his 10 home runs allowed have come away from home.
Gray has only made one career start at Chase Field, a solid outing in 2015.
The Diamondbacks will startright-hander Ryne Nelson (5-2, 3.68 ERA), a former second-round draft pick who has taken a big step forward in his third full big-league season.
The Cardinals, losers of 9 of their last 13, are 51-47 and tied for third in the National League Central.
The Diamondbacks are 48-50, fourth in the National League West.
Nolan Gorman to IL
Before the game, the Cardinals placed infielder Nolan Gorman (lower back pain) on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Friday. He was scratched from Friday's game and had been dealing with the issue prior to the All-Star break.
Infielder Thomas Saggese was recalled from Memphis a game after he was sent down.
Game airs on Fox network
Saturday's game airs only on broadcast television on the Fox Network, KTVI (Channel 2) in ӣƵ.
Nationally, it's one of two games airing on Fox during that time, and the Cardinals game is as well as in Arizona. The rest of the country will receive the Cubs vs. Red Sox game.
It's the second straight Cardinals game to air on broadcast television after Friday's matchup was shown on KMOV and Matrix Midwest.
How to watch Cardinals at Diamondbacks
When:6:15 p.m. Saturday
Where:Chase Field in Phoenix
TV/radio:Fox network (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .
Lineups
CARDINALS
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: Sonny Gray, RHP
DIAMONDBACKS
1. Corbin Carroll, RF
2. Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS
3. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., LF
4. Josh Naylor, 1B
5. Eugenio Suárez, 3B
6. Adrian Del Castillo, DH
7. James McCann, C
8. Alek Thomas, CF
9. Blaze Alexander, 2B
P: Ryne Nelson, 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 placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday (retroactive to Friday), a day after he 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 was unavailable from the Cardinals’ bench on July 13 after his “lower back locked up on him,” Marmol said. Updated July 19
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
