The final game of the three-game set between the St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks on July 20, 2025, at Chase Field promises to be a telling matchup between two teams on different trajectories but with postseason ambitions still in play. St. Louis enters the contest with a 66–55 record, keeping them firmly in the mix in the National League Central and Wild Card races, while the Diamondbacks, hovering just under .500 at 49–50, are looking to use a strong homestand to climb back into contention. The Cardinals will likely turn to veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas, who despite a rocky 5–6 record and 4.94 ERA, has shown flashes of brilliance when his command is sharp and his sinker gets groundballs. Mikolas must navigate a red-hot Arizona lineup led by Ketel Marte and Eugenio Suárez, both of whom have been crushing the ball lately, especially at home. Arizona will counter with their own dependable veteran, Merrill Kelly, who owns a strong 8–5 record with a 3.34 ERA and has been particularly effective at Chase Field, where his ability to mix speeds and induce weak contact plays well. The Diamondbacks offense is dynamic, with power threats in Marte and Suárez and speed and versatility in Corbin Carroll, who continues to be one of MLB’s most disruptive baserunners with 12 triples and 25 stolen bases on the season.

St. Louis brings a more balanced offensive approach, relying on the contact skills of Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson—both hitting around .295—as well as veteran presence from Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras. The Cardinals bullpen, anchored by Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley, has been solid in protecting late leads, but inconsistency from the middle relievers has led to blown opportunities in recent weeks. Arizona’s bullpen has been equally volatile, making early runs and starter performance even more critical. Defensively, both teams are sound, but Arizona’s speed advantage and aggressive baserunning could create problems for a St. Louis team that has sometimes struggled with holding runners. While Arizona is slightly favored due to their home-field advantage and offensive upside, recent history suggests a close, possibly low-scoring game—especially considering that all of St. Louis’s last five series-ending road games have stayed under nine runs. Execution in scoring position and bullpen stability will likely decide the outcome, with the margin for error slim on both sides. The Cardinals will need Mikolas to limit long balls and induce soft contact, while the Diamondbacks will count on Kelly to neutralize the Cardinals’ disciplined hitters and keep the game within reach. With both clubs eyeing a vital win, Sunday’s contest has the ingredients of a tense, strategic battle that may come down to one swing, one miscue, or one standout bullpen effort. Whether it ends in a series win for the home team or a clutch road salvage for the Cards, it’s a game worth watching for its playoff implications and competitive fire.