San Diego @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2018 ) San Diego 1, Arizona 3

Steven Souza Jr. has been limited to 16 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season due to a pectoral strain but still figures prominently in the team’s push for a division title. Souza is fully recovered and settling in as a fifth-place hitter for Arizona, which continues its four-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres on Saturday.

In his second game since coming off the disabled list for the second time this season, Souza recorded two RBIs on Friday as the Diamondbacks evened the series with a 3-1 victory. Nick Ahmed and Paul Goldschmidt added two hits apiece as Arizona improved to 2-6 on their 10-game homestand. The Padres have dropped 14 of their last 18 games and were held to five hits in Friday’s loss as their offense remained quiet. The team had high expectations for Manuel Margot following last year’s promising rookie campaign, but the 23-year-old is batting .232 with three homers after going 0-for-4 with a strikeout during Friday’s loss.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS San Diego, FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tyson Ross (5-6, 3.78 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (3-1, 4.89)

Ross is looking to bounce back from his worst start of the season after allowing seven runs over five innings in a 7-5 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday. The 31-year-old has given up a total of eight homers over his last six starts after serving up just five in his first 11 outings. A.J. Pollock is 2-for-17 against Ross, who is 4-3 with a 2.52 ERA in 14 career games (13 starts) against Arizona - including 2-2 with a 2.96 ERA in nine games (eight starts) at Chase Field.

After tossing six scoreless innings in his return from the disabled list, Ray allowed six runs over five frames in a 6-3 loss to St. Louis on Monday. The 26-year-old native of Tennessee has posted an 11-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last two starts covering 11 innings. Ray has gone 4-4 with a 3.93 ERA in nine career starts against San Diego but has struggled to keep Hunter Renfroe in the park (three homers in nine at-bats).

WALK-OFFS

1. Arizona is 25-22 at Chase Field, including 12-9 against National League West rivals.

2. San Diego activated Phil Hughes (rhomboid) from the 10-day disabled list and activated fellow RHP Kirby Yates from the paternity list.

3. The Diamondbacks activated Randall Delgado (oblique) from the 60-day disabled list and designated fellow RHP Fernando Salas for assignment.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Padres 4