Diamondbacks Host Cardinals in Crucial Series Opener
Nelson Faces Gray as Arizona Aims to Extend Strong Home Run
The Arizona Diamondbacks prepare to host the St. Louis Cardinals at Chase Field, seeking to build on their recent success. The pitching matchup features right-hander Ryne Nelson for the Diamondbacks against the Cardinals’ Sonny Gray.
Pitcher Showdowns and Recent Form
**Ryne Nelson** enters this contest looking to rebound after a challenging outing against the Los Angeles Angels, where he surrendered four runs in four innings. He threw 87 pitches and allowed seven hits, walking four while striking out just one. However, prior to that performance, **Nelson** had been stellar over his previous five starts, boasting a 1.53 ERA, with the Diamondbacks winning all those games. Opposing hitters are struggling against his fastball, managing only a .197 batting average.
**Sonny Gray** on the other side, conceded three runs in six innings during his last encounter with the Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium in May. His most recent start was cut short to just three innings due to a lengthy rain delay against the Atlanta Braves. **Gray** relies heavily on his breaking pitches for strikeouts, with his sweeper generating a 41.4% whiff rate and his curveball a 31% rate.
Upcoming Pitching Matchups on Tap
Looking ahead, the series continues with **Merrill Kelly** (8-5, 3.34) on the mound for the Diamondbacks against the Cardinals’ **Miles Mikolas** (5-6, 4.94) on Sunday, July 20th, at 1:10 p.m. Following this, the Diamondbacks will face the Astros. **Zac Gallen** (7-10, 5.40) is scheduled to pitch on Monday, July 21st, at 6:40 p.m., with the Astros’ starter yet to be announced. The series concludes on Tuesday, July 22nd, at 6:40 p.m., with **Eduardo Rodriguez** (3-6, 5.94) expected to start for Arizona against another TBA from the Astros.
Historically, Chase Field has been a strong venue for the Diamondbacks, with their team ERA standing at 3.97 at home this season, ranking them in the top half of the league. This home advantage could be crucial as they face the Cardinals.
