Arizona @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( May 26, 2013 ) San Diego 5, Arizona 6

The San Diego Padres have overcome a dreadful start to the season to climb into contention in the National League West and can creep closer to first place when they host the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. The Padres, who lost 15 of their first 20 games, are coming off a three-game home sweep of the Atlanta Braves to pull within five games of the Diamondbacks. San Diego will send Eric Stults to the mound to oppose Trevor Cahill in the opener.

Arizona won two of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a series that featured a wild, benches-clearing brawl and a pair of four-run innings in its last at-bat. The Diamondbacks are in the midst of a grueling portion of the schedule that has them playing 14 of 17 games away from home. Arizona holds a 2 1/2-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West due largely to its success away from home where they are 20-15.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Trevor Cahill (3-7, 4.02 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Stults (5-5, 3.53)

Cahill has lost three straight decisions and was rocked by the Giants in his last turn, giving up eight runs on nine hits in a season-low 3 2/3 innings. He has been tagged for 21 runs over 22 2/3 innings during his four-start winless drought, during which his ERA has risen from 2.48 to 4.02. Cahill is 2-2 with a 2.64 ERA in five starts vs. the Padres.

Stults won for the first time in three weeks last time out, limiting Colorado to two runs - one earned - in seven innings. He has pitched better than his record indicates, surrendering only 15 earned runs in his last eight outings while going 3-3 in that span. He has made eight appearances (six starts) vs. Arizona, logging a 3-3 mark and 4.58 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Diamondbacks RHP Ian Kennedy was suspended 10 games Friday by Major League Baseball for his role in the skirmish with the Dodgers. INF Eric Hinske received a five-game ban and manager Kirk Gibson was suspended one game, which he will serve Friday.

2. Cahill made all five starts against the Padres last year, including a six-hit shutout at Petco Park.

3. Diamondbacks 2B Martin Prado is 6-for-14 with three RBIs lifetime against Stults.

PREDICTION: Padres 5, Diamondbacks 3