Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt bids for redemption vs. Cards

Brandon Pfaadt's first career start against the St. Louis Cardinals did not go well.

Pfaadt (1-1, 5.32 ERA) allowed homers to Nolan Arenado and Lars Nootbaar as the Arizona Diamondbacks dropped a 9-6 decision to the Cardinals on April 12 in Phoenix.

Pfaadt, a right-hander, will take his second shot at the Cardinals on Monday night when the Diamondbacks begin a three-game series in St. Louis.

The Cardinals scored six runs on seven hits and two walks against Pfaadt in six innings during that April 12 victory. In their eight games since then, they have scored more than three runs just once en route to a 2-6 record.

"I have confidence we'll get to where we need to go," Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told Bally Sports Midwest. "There's a lot of confidence still in this clubhouse. There's a lot of frustration, no doubt about it."

Pfaadt rebounded from his first outing against the Cardinals to deliver a quality start against the Chicago Cubs during a 5-3 loss on Wednesday. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in seven innings while striking out six.

"Brandon Pfaadt did an unbelievable job," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "We were up against it a little bit, we played two extra-inning games, we had whatever it was, 9 1/3 innings from our starters the last couple of days.

"He kept us in the game. He did a great job. We just didn't execute in a couple of critical areas defensively."

The Diamondbacks split a four-game road series with the San Francisco Giants ahead of this series in St. Louis. Along the way they added pitchers Ryne Nelson (elbow) and Merrill Kelly (shoulder) to their extensive injury list.

"I can't explain why it's happened, or at the rate in which it's happening," Lovullo said. "It's a little uncommon. But we've got to keep pressing forward."

Arizona promoted Slade Cecconi to replace Kelly, who had been scheduled to start Sunday. Additional roster moves may be forthcoming.

The Cardinals enter this series on the heels of a three-game sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers. St. Louis has lost four games in a row overall.

"I know this team is going to be able to turn it around, and hopefully it won't be too late," catcher Willson Contreras said. "Some players just need to let loose and have fun with the game."

St. Louis will counter Pfaadt on Monday with right-hander Lance Lynn (1-0, 2.18 ERA), who didn't face Arizona when the teams met earlier this season. Lynn earned a 3-2 victory over the Oakland A's on Tuesday in his last start while allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits in seven innings.

Lynn is 6-1 with a 2.96 ERA in 14 career outings against the Diamondbacks, including 12 starts.

The Cardinals made two roster moves Sunday. The team sent reliever Andre Pallante to Triple-A Memphis after he threw 53 pitches Saturday and called up reliever Nick Robertson to get a fresh arm in the bullpen.

St. Louis also demoted rookie outfielder Victor Scott II, who was batting just .085 in a starting role, and promoted catcher Pedro Pages.