D-backs, Cardinals pitchers ride hot streaks into clash

A pair of starting pitchers trending in the right direction will meet under unusual circumstance on Thursday afternoon when the St. Louis Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks in a standalone game.

Previously an off day for both clubs, the meeting on Thursday will serve as a make-up for a game that was postponed due to weather on June 25. Arizona and St. Louis also met last week in Phoenix, with the Diamondbacks taking two of three games from the Cardinals.

Arizona will begin its road trip a day early before it departs for a three-city stretch in Washington, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. The Diamondbacks are coming off a home series win against the Athletics, clinching the three-game set with a 15-5 victory on Wednesday.

On the mound, right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (4-1, 4.58 ERA) will be in search of his fifth win in as many starts and his second against St. Louis in less than a week. Last time out, Pfaadt continued his impressive return to the starting rotation, throwing 5 1/3 innings of two-run, six-hit ball, striking out three in a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals on Saturday.

After an uninspiring first three outings of the year led to a demotion to the bullpen, Pfaadt is 4-0 with a 2.14 ERA in four starts since rejoining the starters on June 30.

"Just being aggressive, going out there and pitching to my strengths," Pfaadt said of his recent improvement. "Commanding the ball, pounding the zone. I think that's paid off for me."

Pfaadt is 2-0 with a 3.99 ERA in five career starts against the Cardinals.

Former St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado, now in his first season with the Diamondbacks, is glad to see Pfaadt's turnaround -- and even happier that he no longer has to face the 27-year-old.

"He's been phenomenal. Just a totally different pitcher," Arenado said of Pfaadt. "The times I used to face him, it was never a comfortable at bat because he's got so many pitches and he throws all of them to everybody. It's just great to see him be competitive out there."

The Cardinals mustered just four total runs in their most recent series, salvaging the three-game road set with the Los Angeles Angels with a 1-0 win on Wednesday.

St. Louis on Thursday will turn to right-hander Michael McGreevy (4-7, 2.92 ERA), who enters the game nearly as hot as his counterpart.

McGreevy has posted a 1.46 ERA in his past four starts, and has completed six innings in each of those outings. He faced Arizona on Friday, allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits across 6 1/3 frames, striking out five batters and walking one in a no-decision. The Cardinals won 5-4.

"It was good to see; (McGreevy) did a really nice job," St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. "He made good pitches when he needed to. He consistently made the pitches and he's done a good job for us."

Making the 39th start of his major league career, the 26-year-old McGreevy will face the Diamondbacks for the second time.