Cardinals vs Diamondbacks predictions
When you look at the St. Louis Cardinals heading into this matchup, there’s some real upside sprinkled through their lineup. Brendan Donovan is looking sharp with his consistent bat, and I can easily see him stringing together a couple of hits and scoring a run, thanks to his knack for getting on base. Nolan Arenado—always the steady veteran—seems primed for another productive day, perhaps knocking in an RBI and managing at least a hit or two. Willson Contreras, who’s been flexing some pop all season, figures to make an impact as well, factoring in for a possible home run or at least driving in a run. Add in Alec Burleson’s ability to spray the ball around and sneak in an extra-base hit, and you’ve got a Cardinals lineup that’s quietly dangerous whenever runners get on. With Andre Pallante on the mound, things get interesting, since he’s shown he can navigate trouble, but facing the D-backs’ patient hitters, he’ll need to limit the walks and keep the ball in the yard.
Shifting attention to the Arizona Diamondbacks, you can’t help but feel the energy around their offense, especially at Chase Field. Corbin Carroll seems poised for a solid night at the top of the order, maybe scoring a run and swiping a bag if he gets the chance. Josh Naylor stands out with his smooth lefty swing and ability to drive in runs, so count on him for a couple of key hits and at least one RBI in this one. Ketel Marte never feels far from a big moment, likely picking up a hit and drawing a walk, keeping the line moving for the Diamondbacks’ power hitters. Even with Eugenio Suarez banged up and listed day-to-day, if he’s in the lineup he’s a threat to go deep or drive something into the gap. And pitching-wise, Brandon Pfaadt has quietly put together some strong outings—a handful of strikeouts and keeping runs to a minimum will put Arizona in a good spot.
Looking at how these teams stack up, the Diamondbacks just seem to have the right mix of patient hitting and timely power—especially at home against a Cardinals squad that’s been up and down on the road. If Pfaadt can keep St. Louis’ bats quiet and the top of the Arizona order delivers, I’m leaning toward the Diamondbacks taking the opener in what should be a closely contested series. Would you bet against the Snakes with that firepower at home? It just feels like Arizona is set to come out on top tonight.
