San Diego @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2013 ) San Diego 12, Arizona 3
The San Diego Padres' hot-and-cold offense was scorching Saturday as the club evened its series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at a game apiece. The Padres hope to remain on fire when they visit the Diamondbacks for the finale on Sunday. San Diego has split its last four contests, scoring a total of 22 runs in the victories and one in the losses.
Andrew Cashner was a double threat in Saturday's 12-3 triumph, pitching six effective innings while hitting one of his club's three home runs. Arizona managed only six hits in the loss after erupting for 17 in Friday's 10-0 victory. The Diamondbacks, who visit the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays for a brief two-game interleague series that begins Tuesday, fell 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSN (San Diego, Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tyson Ross (1-4, 3.35 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (12-1, 2.31)
Ross will be making only his fifth start of the season. The 26-year-old was impressive on Tuesday, limiting the Brewers to one run and two hits over six innings in a victory at Milwaukee in his first start since April 17. Ross tossed a scoreless inning of relief on May 25 in his only career appearance against the Diamondbacks.
Corbin has been superb over his last three starts, allowing three runs and 14 hits over 20 2/3 innings while registering 26 strikeouts. The 24-year-old's recent surge has come after a six-start winless stretch during which he surrendered more than two runs only twice. Corbin, who is 8-0 with a 1.54 ERA at home, has posted a pair of victories over San Diego this season to even his career record against the Padres at 2-2.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona C Miguel Montero went 2-for-3 with a home run Saturday after missing the previous four games with a stiff back.
2. The Padres are 5-4 on their 10-game road trip, while the Diamondbacks are 3-3 on their seven-game homestand.
3. Arizona LHP Tyler Skaggs was optioned to Triple-A Reno after Saturday's disappointing start.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Padres 1