The Arizona Diamondbacks return to Chase Field on Saturday, July 18, to host the St. Louis Cardinals in a 4:10 p.m. ET first pitch. Brandon Pfaadt gets the ball for Arizona against Cardinals right-hander Dustin May. With the regular season deep into the second half, every game carries genuine weight in the NL standings — and this one pits two pitchers who have each shown the ability to control a game when locked in. Arizona fans can catch the action on DBACKS.TV or listen on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
Probable Starters: Pfaadt vs. May
Brandon Pfaadt is Arizona's assignment here, and the right-hander has established himself as a legitimate piece of the Diamondbacks' rotation. Pfaadt profiles as a high-strikeout arm with the ability to generate swing-and-miss, and his outings at Chase Field have shown he's comfortable working in front of the home crowd. His command of the strike zone will be the thing to watch — when Pfaadt is hitting spots and keeping the ball in the lower half, he's difficult to square up.
Dustin May comes over from St. Louis carrying a power arm of his own. May has long been regarded as one of the more intriguing starters in the National League when healthy, featuring a sinker that generates heavy ground-ball contact. Arizona's lineup will need to be disciplined early, work counts, and look for pitches to drive rather than getting beat by May's best stuff in hitter-unfavorable counts.
Keys to the Game for Arizona
- Pfaadt's first-inning efficiency: Keeping the Cardinals off the board early sets the tone and allows Arizona's offense to work with a clean slate.
- Plate discipline against May: May's sinker plays best when hitters are chasing — staying patient and working deep into counts could pay dividends for the D-backs lineup.
- Bullpen readiness: Should Pfaadt encounter trouble in the middle innings, Arizona's relief corps will need to be sharp to preserve any lead heading into the late game.
- Chase Field crowd factor: Home games in July carry the heat — literally — but the energy inside Chase Field with the roof closed can be a genuine advantage for the home club.
What to Watch Beyond the Pitching Matchup
This is a matchup that could hinge on one or two swings. Both Pfaadt and May are capable of going deep into games and limiting damage, which means Arizona's lineup has to manufacture runs when the opportunity presents itself — small ball, aggressive baserunning, and timely hitting all factor in. The Cardinals are a disciplined, veteran-heavy club, so Arizona can't afford sloppy defense or careless walks from the back end of the 'pen.
Prediction
Pfaadt has been building toward starts like this one, and the home mound at Chase Field is a comfortable setting for him. Expect a competitive, low-scoring affair — the kind of game where one big inning decides it. Arizona finds a way to push across two or three runs in the middle innings and Pfaadt keeps the Cardinals in check long enough to hand it to the bullpen. D-backs win, 3-2.
