Arizona @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2018 ) Arizona 2, Miami 1

Veteran right-hander Zack Greinke looks to continue his hot streak and remain unbeaten in his career against the Miami Marlins when the Arizona Diamondbacks visit for the finale of a four-game series Thursday afternoon. Greinke is 6-0 in 11 games (10 starts) versus the Marlins and has a chance to lead the Diamondbacks to a series victory as well as their 11th win in 13 road contests.

Daniel Descalso belted a pinch-hit solo homer in the eighth inning for what proved to be the winning run in a 2-1 victory on Wednesday for National League West-leading Arizona, which limited Miami to three hits in the triumph. Greinke goes after his second win against the Marlins this month and will face 25-year-old Miami rookie Trevor Richards, who has two of his three quality starts in the last three trips to the mound. The Marlins, who are last in the NL in scoring, had won three in a row after taking the series opener 9-5 on Monday before managing four runs the past two nights. Miami’s Starlin Castro homered for the second straight game Wednesday and is 5-for-11 in the series with three runs scored, three RBIs and a pair of walks.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (7-5, 3.66 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Trevor Richards (2-4, 4.91)

Greinke has won four of his last five starts, capped by a win at Pittsburgh on Saturday in which he allowed two hits over six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. The 34-year-old Florida native, who boasts 102 strikeouts and just 19 walks in 96 innings, limited the Marlins to one run over 6 2/3 innings in a victory on June 2 to begin his hot stretch. Castro is 9-for-25 with four doubles and a homer versus Greinke, who has a 3.53 career ERA against the Marlins.

Richards registered one of the best performances of his young career last Saturday when he held Colorado to one run, three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over six innings. The Illinois native has permitted one run or fewer in four of his last seven outings as he prepares to meet the Diamondbacks for the first time. Richards, who has struck out 40 and walked 20 in 44 innings, has been much better at Marlins Park (1-1, 3.12 ERA) than on the road (1-3, 6.08).

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami rookie 3B-RF Brian Anderson walked twice Wednesday to extend his on-base streak to 24 games.

2. Arizona RHP Yoshihisa Hirano is tied with J.J. Putz (2012) and Brandon Lyon (2008) for the franchise record with 24 straight scoreless outings.

3. Marlins C-1B J.T. Realmuto (wrist) was a late scratch from Wednesday’s lineup, missing his third straight game.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 2