Toronto @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( May 23, 2010 ) Toronto 12, Arizona 4

The Arizona Diamondbacks are desperately trying to stay in the postseason hunt as they prepare to open a three-game interleague series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Monday afternoon. The Diamondbacks have lost eight of 13 to fall six games back of Cincinnati for the second wild card in the National League. Arizona is 3-3 on its nine-game homestand but has scored only seven runs in dropping three of its last four contests.

The Blue Jays won back-to-back home series against the New York Yankees and Kansas City, but now they must attempt to avoid another disastrous road trip. Toronto lost seven straight en route to a 2-8 road swing last month and has been awful away from home with a 27-41 record. The Blue Jays will have a chance to get re-acquainted with Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill, who played 6 1/2 seasons for Toronto before he was traded to Arizona during the 2011 season.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), FSN Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Esmil Rogers (3-7, 5.03 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Brandon McCarthy (3-8, 5.03)

Rogers has bounced between the starting rotation and bullpen but one thing remains constant - his inability to get into the win column. He is 0-5 over his last 12 appearances and hasn't won since beating Colorado on June 18. Rogers surrendered a pair of solo homers in relief against the Yankees on Tuesday after giving up four runs in five innings to New York in his last start seven days earlier.

McCarthy rebounded from a wretched performance with a strong outing last time out, holding San Diego to one unearned run over seven innings to snap a five-game losing streak. He was beat up for seven runs in 2 1/3 innings at Cincinnati in his previous turn - his fourth straight loss since returning from the disabled list early last month. McCarthy is 3-2 with a 3.79 ERA in nine appearances (six starts) versus Toronto.

WALK-OFFS

1. Hill batted .372 with four homers and 16 RBIs in August.

2. Blue Jays SS Jose Reyes has a .344 batting average in 46 games against the Diamondbacks.

3. The teams haven't met since May 2010, when Arizona took two of three from visiting Toronto.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Blue Jays 3