The Arizona Diamondbacks welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to Chase Field on Friday, July 17, with right-hander Merrill Kelly scheduled to start for Arizona. First pitch is set for 9:40 PM ET, with the game available on DBACKS.TV and Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. St. Louis has not announced a probable starter. This is a meaningful regular-season contest — Arizona is looking to build at home, and every game in July matters in the NL West standings race.

Starting Pitchers: Kelly Anchors the Home Side

Merrill Kelly gets the ball for the Diamondbacks. The veteran right-hander has long been one of Arizona's most dependable rotation arms, eating innings and consistently keeping the team in games. No ERA or win-loss data is available in the current event data for this appearance, but Kelly's track record as a reliable mid-rotation-or-better starter makes this a solid draw for Arizona at home. St. Louis has not listed a probable pitcher, which adds a layer of uncertainty for the Cardinals heading into Chase Field.

Arizona Diamondbacks Lineup

• Ketel Marte — 2B (leadoff)
• Geraldo Perdomo — SS
• Corbin Carroll — RF
• Gabriel Moreno — C
• Max Kepler — LF
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. — DH
• Nolan Arenado — 3B
• Ildemaro Vargas — 1B
• Tim Tawa — CF

St. Louis Cardinals Lineup

• JJ Wetherholt — 2B (leadoff)
• Iván Herrera — DH
• Alec Burleson — 1B
• Jordan Walker — RF
• Lars Nootbaar — LF
• Masyn Winn — SS
• Nathan Church — CF
• José Fermín — 3B
• Jimmy Crooks — C

Keys to Watch

Kelly's Command Early

When Kelly is on, he works efficiently and limits traffic. How he handles the top of the Cardinals order — Wetherholt, Herrera, and Burleson — will set the tone. If he can work into the sixth inning cleanly, Arizona's bullpen gets a much-needed cushion.

Marte and Carroll Setting the Table

Ketel Marte leading off and Corbin Carroll batting third gives Arizona a top of the order with speed and on-base ability. If those two get on base early and consistently, it creates pressure on whatever arm St. Louis sends out. The Cardinals' unnamed starter situation makes this an interesting dynamic — Arizona's lineup could be facing someone they've seen little or no advance film on.

Arenado Returns to Chase Field

Nolan Arenado, now batting seventh for the Cardinals — wait, Arenado is listed here in Arizona's lineup at third base, batting seventh. That's a notable name in a Diamondbacks uniform. His presence in the bottom third of the order gives Arizona's lineup surprising depth. How he performs against his former NL Central organization's pitching could be a subplot worth watching.

Cardinals' Unknown Starter

With no probable pitcher announced for St. Louis, Arizona's coaching staff will need to prepare for multiple scenarios. That uncertainty cuts both ways — it may mean a bullpen game or a late scratch, which could disrupt rhythm on either side.

Prediction

Kelly steadies the ship at Chase Field, giving Arizona six solid innings while the offense does enough against an unnamed Cardinals arm. The Diamondbacks take this one at home. Arizona 4, St. Louis 2.