Philadelphia @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 23, 2010 ) Philadelphia 4, Arizona 7

Kelly Johnson was regulated to the Atlanta Braves' bench at the end of the 2009 season, and soon thereafter, he hit the free agent market. The offers came from a handful of teams like the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates, but the Arizona Diamondbacks were the most persistent. Johnson eventually made his way to Phoenix to sign a one-year, $2.35-millon contract. In other words, the Diamondbacks got him on the cheap after a season in which he was eventually replaced by Martin Prado. The 28-year-old Johnson hit .224 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs to go along with a .303 on-base percentage and .389 slugging. It was by far his least productive year since becoming the Braves' full-time starter before for the 2007 campaign. Before injuries (right wrist tendinitis) and Prado’s emergence, Johnson was a pretty productive second baseman. He hit .276 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs with an OPS over .800 in 2007 and followed it up with a .287, 12 and 69 campaign that also included a plus .800 OPS. The Diamondbacks signed Johnson expecting him to return to similar form - and after his two home-run game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, it is beginning to look like he has done just that. Through 15 games, the left-handed hitting Johnson is hitting .326 (17-for-52) with eight doubles, five home runs and eight RBIs. He has really done well in the leadoff spot with outfielder Conor Jackson on the disabled list. Arizona starting pitcher Ian Kennedy (0-1. 5.65 ERA) hopes Johnson’s hot start continues Saturday when the right-hander takes the mound against one of the more lethal lineups in all of baseball. The Phillies were held mostly in check by Kris Benson on Friday and it isn’t often the team goes back-to-back games without terrorizing the opponent’s starting pitcher. Kennedy will probably need some assistance from his offense and Johnson, along with the hot-hitting Mark Reynolds - who has seven hits in his last 14 at-bats with three home runs and nine RBIs - has been a catalyst thus far. Philadelphia counters with Nelson Figueroa, who is making the start for J.A. Happ (elbow). Figueroa is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 7 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.He came over from the New York Mets on April 7 after the Phillies claimed him off waivers. The Phillies offense has been bolstered by the return of veteran third baseman Placido Polanco. He had multi-hit games in eight of the last nine games he played and was hitting .383 through 14 games with two home runs and 12 RBIs.