Diamondbacks return home against Cardinals aiming to gain ground

Friday night’s pitchers:

Brandon Pfaadt takes the mound for Arizona, tasked with setting the tone against a surging Cardinals lineup. For the D-Backs, Pfaadt’s outing carries added weight. The right-hander has been steady over his last few starts, mixing in his lethal slider and building confidence with each trip to the hill. Pfaadt on the season has a 9-6 record with a 5.16 ERA.

Opposing him for St. Louis is Andre Pallante, who’s shown flashes of dominance, though has been hit around this season. His last outing against the Washington Nationals, Pallante gave up seven earned runs on eight hits along with two home runs in six innings pitched.

Arizona’s offense will need to keep the pressure on Pallante. Corbin Carroll could be the spark Arizona needs to stay ahead in the NL Wild Card chase. Ketel Marte’s bat will also be key, especially with the Cardinals’ bullpen showing signs of vulnerability late in games. A win Friday would give Arizona momentum in a critical three-game series that could shape their playoff outlook heading into August.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. local time, and fans at Chase Field should expect a tense atmosphere in mid-July. With Pfaadt dealing and the bats heating up, Arizona has a chance to make an early statement this weekend.