San Diego @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2018 ) San Diego 5, Arizona 20
One day after setting a franchise record for most runs in a game, the Arizona Diamondbacks look to carry over some of that offense Sunday when they conclude a four-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres. David Peralta had five hits and three RBIs on Saturday as the Diamondbacks scored 15 runs in the first four innings and cruised to a 20-5 victory.
Steven Souza belted his first home run as a member of the Diamondbacks while Ketel Marte, Alex Avila, Nick Ahmed and Paul Goldschmidt also homered and combined for 10 RBIs in the rout. Center fielder Jon Jay, who contributed two hits and scored three runs from the leadoff spot, has gone 7-for-15 over his last three games after recording one hit in 34 at-bats during the previous 10 contests. Arizona has won back-to-back games since losing the series opener to the rebuilding Padres, who have dropped 15 of their last 19 games and fallen 15 games under .500. The lone bright spot Saturday was the play of left fielder Wil Myers, who homered three times and is 13-for-35 with five multi-hit efforts over his last 10 games.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Clayton Richard (7-8, 4.46 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (9-5, 3.36)
Richard allowed five runs and walked a season-high five batters over six innings against Oakland on Tuesday, losing his second straight start following a four-game winning streak. The 24-year-old has posted a 3.86 ERA in eight starts at Petco Park compared to a 5.01 mark in 10 road outings. Chris Owings is 7-for-18 with five RBIs against Richard, who is 10-6 with a 4.14 ERA in 18 career starts versus Arizona -- including 4-4 with a 6.12 ERA in nine outings at Chase Field.
Greinke won his fourth consecutive outing Tuesday, allowing two runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-2 victory over St. Louis. “He's on a great roll right now,” manager Torey Lovullo told reporters. “I feel like he had his best slider of the year. He went to that pitch often, got a lot of swings and poor contact on that pitch.” Freddy Galvis is 1-for-14 against Greinke, who owns a 10-2 record and 2.07 ERA in 19 career starts versus San Diego.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Diego is 2-34 when scoring two or fewer runs.
2. The Diamondbacks activated Avila from the disabled list prior to Saturday’s game and optioned RHP Silvino Bracho to Triple-A Reno.
3. The Padres placed LHP Jose Castillo on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain and recalled RHP Kazuhisa Makita from Triple-A El Paso.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 7, Padres 2