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Eckstein to make Arizona debut vs. former team

Sep 1, 2008 - 1:45 PM St. Louis (74-63) at Arizona (69-67) 4:10 pm. EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- David Ecsktein returns to the National League just in time to help do some damage against one of his former teams.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to have their newest addition in the lineup on Monday when they host the St. Louis Cardinals.

Eckstein, who was the MVP of the 2006 World Series with St. Louis, was acquired from Toronto for a minor league pitcher on Sunday. The diminutive shortstop is hitting .277 with one home run and 23 RBI.

"You admire and respect him, but he can get under your skin a little bit, and I'm glad he's on my side doing that to the other teams," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said.

The Cardinals witnessed Eckstein's scrappy, all-out style for three years. Now they will get a different perspective. It will be the first time Eckstein faces St. Louis, as Toronto did not face the Cardinals in interleague play.

Joel Pineiro (6-5, 4.83 ERA) takes the hill looking to help make Eckstein's debut with Arizona an uneventful one. The righthander returns to the rotation after allowing two runs and five hits in three innings to earn the save in a 18-3 win over Atlanta on August 22.

Meanwhile, Randy Johnson (10-9, 4.02) will try and help the Diamondbacks snap a two-game skid and protect a slim 2 1/2 game lead over Los Angeles (67-70) in the National League West. The 44-year-old lefthander is seeking career win No. 295. He is 1-2 over his last five outings despite a 2.88 ERA.

He will look to deal the Cardinals' playoff hopes a damaging blow. St. Louis, which has lost three straight, trails Milwaukee (80-56) by 6 1/2 games in the wild card race.