San Diego @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( May 27, 2016 ) San Diego 10, Arizona 3

Another disappointing month has resulted in a series of roster changes for the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks, who have dropped four in row heading into Saturday’s game against the visiting San Diego Padres. The Diamondbacks dropped Friday’s series opener 10-3 and have been outscored 35-11 during their losing streak.

The roster movement began early Friday as starting pitchers Rubby De La Rosa (elbow) and Shelby Miller (finger) were placed on the disabled list and continued when relievers Dominic Leone, Silvino Bracho and Josh Collmenter were added to an underachieving bullpen. “We’re (eight) games under .500, and this is what happens,” manager Chip Hale told reporters. “No one likes a lot of change, but that’s what happens in professional sports when you’re not performing to where we’re supposed to be.” Bracho tossed two scoreless innings of relief Friday against the Padres, who snapped a four-game losing streak and collected 18 hits in the victory. Matt Kemp broke out of a 3-for-33 slump by going 3-for-5 with his 11th home run and Wil Myers returned after being held out of the starting lineup for the previous two games with a left forearm injury.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, FSN Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Cesar Vargas (0-2, 3.34 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (5-3, 4.59)

Vargas recorded the best start of his career last Saturday, as he held the Los Angeles Dodgers to two runs and four hits while striking out seven over seven innings. The 24-year-old is seeking his first major-league victory despite working at least five frames in five of his first six outings. Vargas, who has walked 13 batters in his first 32 1/3 innings, was signed by the Padres during the offseason after spending the previous seven campaigns in the New York Yankees' minor-league system.

Greinke continued to round into form Sunday, allowing one run while striking out seven over eight innings to earn the win at St. Louis. The reigning NL ERA champion has won five of his last seven starts and has issued a total of four walks over his last three outings. Myers is 2-for-17 against Greinke, who is 6-1 with a 1.64 ERA in 13 career games against the Padres - including seven straight quality starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Hale announced that RHP Archie Bradley will be recalled from Triple-A Reno to start in place of Miller in Sunday’s series finale.

2. Kemp’s 32 home runs against Arizona ranks second behind the Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez among active players.

3. Arizona optioned relievers Evan Marshall and Andrew Chafin to Reno and recalled OF/1B Peter O'Brien.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Padres 2