(Sports Network) - Fading back in the National League West, Arizona would love for nothing more than for Max Scherzer to post his first-career win. The rookie takes the hill tonight for the Diamondbacks in the third test of a four-game series versus the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Arizona has split the first two games of this set, but suffered a 7-4 setback on Tuesday to fall three games back of the NL West-leading Dodgers. Los Angeles downed San Diego last night to lower its magic number for clinching the division to three.

The 24-year-old Scherzer has yet to pick up a big-league win despite pitching well in his last three outings. He faced the Rockies on Friday and allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings, but was on the losing end of a 3-2 decision. He also fanned eight to give him 28 strikeouts over his last three games.

Scherzer is 0-3 with a 3.38 earned run average in six starts this year, with the righty also posting a 2.37 ERA in nine relief outings.

He has never faced the Cardinals.

Chris Young hit a two-run homer and finished with three RBI last night for the Diamondbacks, who had their three-game win streak snapped. Miguel Montero also homered in defeat and Conor Jackson tallied three hits, scoring once.

Ryan Ludwick clubbed a three-run homer and Kyle Lohse posted his career-high 15th win for the Cardinals, who were officially eliminated from postseason contention despite the win.

Albert Pujols knocked in two runs, while Felipe Lopez went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored to help his club halt a three-game skid and win for just the third time in 13 games.

Adam Wainwright will start for the Cardinals and is 5-0 over his last seven starts.

After escaping an outing versus the Pirates on September 13 with a no-decision despite allowing six runs over four innings, Wainwright defeated the Cubs on Friday. He held Chicago to two runs on four hits over five innings, improving to 10-3 on the season with a 3.21 ERA.

The 27-year-old righty, who has a 6-1 mark and 2.60 ERA in 10 home starts this year, is 2-2 with a 3.05 ERA in six games (3 starts) lifetime against Arizona. He defeated the Diamondbacks on September 2 with 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball.

Arizona took two of three from the Cards earlier in the season. St. Louis, though, has won six of its last nine at home in this series.