San Diego @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( May 28, 2016 ) San Diego 7, Arizona 8

Paul Goldschmidt’s return to form has come just in time for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who will need an extended surge from their top slugger to climb back into the National League West race. The three-time All-Star looks to continue his hot hitting Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres, who have dropped nine of their last 12 games.

Goldschmidt belted his ninth homer in Saturday’s 8-7 victory and appears ready to put his early-season slump behind him by going 12-for-33 with nine RBI in his last 10 games. The Diamondbacks snapped a four-game losing skid with Saturday’s win but have plenty of work ahead of them in the NL West, where they've fallen to fourth place, nine games behind first-place San Francisco. Expectations were considerably lower for the Padres, who sit 10 games under .500 but have received a spark from third baseman Yangervis Solarte, who has three home runs among seven hits in his last four games. If the rebuilding Padres trade one of their veteran outfielders as expected this summer, they could have a ready replacement in 24-year-old Hunter Renfroe, who is hitting .316 with 11 home runs for Triple-A El Paso.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, FSN Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Drew Pomeranz (4-4, 1.70 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Archie Bradley (1-0, 7.84)

Pomeranz continued to impress while pitching seven innings of two-hit shutout ball with four walks and four strikeouts against San Francisco on Monday. The 27-year-old has relied on an improved curveball while allowing a total of 13 hits in 31 innings over five starts this month. Goldschmidt is 4-for-9 with a home run against Pomeranz, who is 0-2 with a 7.91 ERA in seven career games (four starts) against Arizona, including a 6.55 ERA in four games at Chase Field.

Bradley was recalled from Triple-A Reno to fill the rotation spot vacated by Shelby Miller, who was placed on the disabled list Friday with a right index finger injury. “He’s taken a definite step from last year to this year,” manager Chip Hale told reporters. “Now he’s going to be in there every fifth day for a while.” Bradley earned the call after posting five consecutive quality starts with a 1.58 ERA for Reno, including eight shutout innings in his last start May 21.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego RF Matt Kemp has homered in back-to-back games, and his 33 home runs against Arizona ranks second behind the Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez among active players.

2. Arizona LHP Edwin Escobar will be recalled from Triple-A Reno to make his first major league start Monday against Houston.

3. The Padres traded 1B James Loney to the Mets for cash considerations.

PREDICTION: Padres 6, Diamondbacks 3