The Arizona Diamondbacks head into their May 24 road game against the St. Louis Cardinals with a 26–24 record and the urgent goal of regaining momentum in a tightly packed National League West. Having dropped a recent contest to the Cardinals, the D-backs are looking for redemption behind ace Zac Gallen, who was touched up for four earned runs in his last start against St. Louis but remains the foundation of Arizona’s rotation. Gallen has been largely dependable this season, combining pinpoint command with an elite pitch mix that keeps hitters off balance, and a bounce-back outing at Busch Stadium would go a long way toward steadying Arizona’s slightly shaky recent stretch. The Diamondbacks’ offense, while not explosive, has been opportunistic thanks to the consistency of Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno, who continue to deliver timely hits and keep the top and middle of the order productive. Marte, in particular, has been one of the club’s most reliable bats, driving in runs, hitting for average, and generating offense with his switch-hitting versatility. Moreno, known more for his glove than his bat early in his career, has become a dual threat, managing the pitching staff while also contributing crucial contact hitting in big moments. The rest of the lineup has seen mixed results—Christian Walker’s power has been inconsistent, and Corbin Carroll’s sophomore season hasn’t mirrored his rookie campaign—but there’s enough depth to manufacture runs when the core players are firing.

On the mound, the bullpen has been the most glaring issue in Arizona’s recent games, failing to hold leads and allowing opponents to capitalize late, which puts even more pressure on Gallen to go deep into the game and minimize exposure to the middle relievers. Manager Torey Lovullo has tried to stabilize the late innings with matchups and aggressive use of his top arms, but until the bullpen finds a reliable groove, close games will continue to present a challenge. Defensively, Arizona remains solid, with sound fundamentals and strong outfield coverage that supports their contact-heavy pitching approach. The Diamondbacks have a 23–25 record against the spread this season, illustrating their tendency to keep games close even in defeat, though they’ve struggled to consistently close the door on opponents. Recent head-to-head matchups against the Cardinals have been relatively even, but St. Louis has a significant historical edge, which adds urgency to Arizona’s mission to prove they can win tight games on the road against playoff-caliber teams. With Gallen on the bump, the D-backs have their best chance to level the series, but it will take a full team effort—early offense, error-free defense, and late-inning execution—to pull out a key win and stay within striking distance in the division. A strong showing in St. Louis could serve as a momentum swing, particularly if Arizona’s bats come alive and Gallen regains his dominant form on the mound.