Philadelphia @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 5, 2012 ) Arizona 4, Philadelphia 5

The Arizona Diamondbacks will try for their second four-game winning streak of the season Thursday when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a four-game series. Arizona is coming off a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in which first baseman Paul Goldschmidt slugged four home runs and moved into the National League lead with 30 RBIs. The Phillies missed out on a sweep of the San Francisco Giants when they were beaten 4-3 in 10 innings Wednesday.

Philadelphia outfielder Delmon Young continues to struggle in his first season in the National League. Young is 3-for-23 since beginning his season April 30 following off-season surgery on his right ankle. The good news is he has an RBI in each of his last two games, but the Phillies certainly need more from the 27-year-old.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, Fox Sports Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cole Hamels (1-4, 4.34 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (4-0, 1.80)

Hamels has strung together five consecutive quality starts but has one victory to show for it. In fact, the Phillies have won one of the seven games in which Hamels has started this season. Hamels has had better luck against the Diamondbacks in his career. He’s 4-1 with a 3.47 ERA in seven career starts. In his only start against Arizona last season, he went eight innings and allowed two runs and four hits in the 7-2 victory in Phoenix. The player Hamels has struggled against is Diamondbacks left fielder Cody Ross, who has five home runs in 37 career at-bats against him. Ross hasn’t hit more than three home runs against any other pitcher in the majors.

Corbin was expected to be the fourth or fifth starter this season, but after six starts he might as well be considered Arizona’s ace. He has made a quality start in all six outings this season and the Diamondbacks have won every time he has taken the mound. He hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any start. Dating back to last season, his string of quality starts sits at seven. One of the differences this season has been the home run ball. He allowed 14 in 107 innings during his rookie campaign last season but has yielded two in 40 innings this year. Corbin has never pitched against the Phillies.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Phillies will call up RHP Tyler Cloyd from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take the spot of Roy Halladay, who will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder. Cloyd will start Friday against the Diamondbacks.

2. The Phillies' bullpen has been tagged with seven of the team's 19 losses this season.

3. Diamondbacks RHP Heath Bell has saved two straight games since J.J. Putz left Tuesday with an elbow injury, which landed him on the 15-day disabled list.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Phillies 3