Diamondbacks at Cardinals Preview April 17th

The Arizona Diamondbacks (9-7, 1st place NL West) and St. Louis Cardinals (7-9, 4th place NL Central) play tonight at Busch Stadium, game time 4:45 MST.

PREVIEW

The D-backs are coming off a victory Sunday, salvaging the last game of a three game series against the Marlins. The Cardinals just split a four game series with the Pirates at home.

Last year the Cardinals won the season series between the two teams, 5-2. The D-backs split a four game series in St. Louis from April 28th-May 1st, but then were swept three straight at home August 19-21.

Television

D-backs - Bally Sports Arizona. Cardinals -Bally Sports Midwest

Radio

D-backs - ESPN Phoenix 620, KHOV Univision 105.1

Cardinals - KMOX 1120 AM/98.7 FM, Cardinals Radio Network, WIJR AM 880 (En Espanol)

PITCHING MATCHUP

Merrill Kelly, 0-2, 2.93 ERA vs Jack Flaherty 1-1, 1.76 ERA

Kelly is coming off a tough loss against the Brewers last week. After throwing six no-hit innings he allowed a leadoff homer in the top of the 7th and then put two runners on that eventually came in to score after he was pulled from the game.

Kelly has been uncharacteristically wild in his first three starts, walking four batters each time. He faced the Cardinals twice in 2022, picking up a win on April 30th with seven scoreless innings, and then had a no decision on August 21st, allowing three runs in six innings.

Flaherty walked seven Toronto Blue Jays on April 1st, but didn't allow a hit or a run in five innings. Then he walked 6 more but gave up just two runs in a loss to the Brewers on April 7th. He finally seemed to regain his control in Colorado last week, going 5.1 innings and walking just one while giving up two runs, one earned.

The high early walk totals have led to a 5.41 FIP, taking some of the shine off his ERA. But when healthy Flaherty has been an excellent major league pitcher. He finished 5th in the Rookie of the year voting in 2018 and 4th in the NL Cy Young voting in 2019 when he posted a 2.75 ERA in 196 innings and led the league with a 0.968 WHIP. An oblique injury sidelined him in 2021, but he had a 9-2 record with a 3.22 ERA in 15 starts. A shoulder injury limited him to just nine starts last year.

Flaherty throws primarily a four seamer (92.6 MPH) a slider, and has been mixing in a new cutter. He also throws a curveball.

LINEUPS

Corbin Carroll slides over to right field with Lourdes Gurriel Jr playing left. The slumping Jake McCarthy is on the bench for the second time in four games. The only hitters in the lineup to have faced Flaherty before are Ketel Marte and Josh Rojas. They're both 0-3 against him.

Paul Goldschmidt is not in the lineup tonight for the Cardinals. It's likely just a day off as he's 1-9 with two K's against Kelly.

Nolan Arenado and Tyler O'Neill have the longest track records against Kelly. Arenado has gone 4-10, with a homer, a double and two walks. O'neil has had less success, going 2-11, with a homer back in 2019.

BULLPENS

The Cardinals closer is Ryan Helsley. His fastball averages 99 MPH and he can hit triple digits. More importantly it's a high spin fastball (2668 R/PM) with a lot movement. His other pitch is a slider. He has three saves but blew a save on Saturday against the Pirates. In seven innings he has a 2.57 ERA and 10 strikeouts.

The Cardinals primary lefty reliever is Zack Thompson, who has yet to allow a run in 8.1 innings.

Joe Mantiply is expected to rejoin the team soon after two rehab outing in Amarillo. As of this writing no roster move has been announced yet.

The Diamondbacks and Cardinals and have the same bullpen ERA, 4.34, but the underlying peripherals favor St. Louis who have a 4.18 FIP to Arizona's 5.07.

(FIP is Fielding Independent pitching, based on walks, strikeouts and home runs)