Phillies at Cardinals
With their disastrous road trip behind them, the St. Louis Cardinals attempt to extend their home winning streak to four games when they host the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. St. Louis went winless on a seven-game trek before returning home to edge Philadelphia 3-2 in Friday's opener.
Five of the Cardinals' first six batters in the lineup recorded two hits Friday - includng Aledmys Diaz, who snapped a 2-2 tie with a solo homer in the fifth inning. St. Louis hopes to regain the services of Yadier Molina on Saturday after the veteran catcher was a late scratch in the opener due to stiffness in his lower back. Philadelphia continues to struggle on its nine-game road trip, as it has lost three in a row after winning the first two contests. Aaron Altherr collected three of the Phillies' seven hits on Friday, recording two doubles and a triple for his second three-hit performance in four games, while Odubel Herrera's franchise record-tying streak of six consecutive games with a double came to a halt.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (1-2, 5.18 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (4-5, 3.29)
Pivetta is coming off his first major-league victory, a triumph at Atlanta on Monday in which he gave up three runs over five innings. The 24-year-old Canadian has yet to work more than five frames during his five-start career, going that distance on three occasions. Pivetta, who will be facing St. Louis for the first time, has made four of his five starts on the road.
Martinez has lost two of his last three turns, including a setback at Cincinnati on Monday in which he yielded four runs in 6 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old Dominican has pitched well at home, winning three straight decisions and going unbeaten in five outings since losing to the Reds on April 9. Martinez has yet to lose to Philadelphia, going 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in five career appearances (two starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong (elbow) went 1-for-2 with a walk after being activated from the disabled list while 3B Jhonny Peralta was designated for assignment after hitting just .204 in 21 games.
2. Philadelphia traded INF Taylor Featherston, who went 3-for-26 with an RBI in 19 games last season, to Tampa Bay for cash considerations.
3. St. Louis dismissed third-base coach Chris Maloney and replaced him with Mike Shildt, who also will be the team's primary outfield instructor.