The Arizona Diamondbacks (58-58) and St. Louis Cardinals (63-53) will continue a three-game National League series on Wednesday night at Busch Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:15 ET

Arizona Diamondbacks at St. Louis Cardinals 

Arizona has now lost four of its last 10 games after suffering an 8-2 series-opening loss in St. Louis on Tuesday night, which served as the club’s fourth loss in as many games in this season series.  “We come back in the seventh with a two-run home run, but we fell apart with two errors on two bunt plays,” commented Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson after the game.  It’s all or nothing for this club in terms of hitting the long ball, entering the series with a .645 win percentage when homering, while posting a .231 mark when failing to do so.  Arizona is 2-1 as a road underdog of +150 to +175 this season.

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Joe Saunders (6-8, 3.52 ERA) snapped a two-game losing streak in tallying a 6-3 road win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the club hasn’t won consecutive games with him on the mound since May 18-23.  The left-hander is 2-3 with a 2.49 ERA in 10 road outings, with opposing hitters batting just .244 against him.  In two career efforts versus the Cardinals, Saunders has compiled an even 1-1 record and 6.48 ERA.

St. Louis has come alive offensively in winning its last six games versus Arizona, hitting .326 in that span, while also winning 14 of its last 17 games at home overall.  The Cardinals are in prime position to make another run into the NL playoffs, sitting just a game behind three teams in the Wild Card race.  St. Louis is 11-6 at home when the total is 8 to 8.5, with the “over” going 9-8 in that situation.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (10-10, 3.90 ERA) has really turned the corner over the last two outings, picking up a pair of home wins against the Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants, allowing just two runs in 16 combined innings.  The right-hander is 7-5 with a 4.03 ERA in 13 home games, issuing 21 walks and striking out 80 batters in 82.2 combined frames.  In nine career appearances (six starts) against the Diamondbacks, Wainwright has compiled a 4-3 record and 2.48 ERA.

Sports bettors will likely back the Cardinals due to their 4-0 mark in Wainwright’s last four starts against NL West foes, while the Diamondbacks are 1-6 in Saunders last seven starts as a road underdog.

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