San Francisco @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2018 ) San Francisco 3, Arizona 9

Starting pitching has become a growing concern for the San Francisco Giants, who have allowed five runs in the first inning in back-to-back losses to the Arizona Diamondbacks. With their faint playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Giants aim for a split of their four-game series in Arizona on Sunday.

Arizona moved one game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West with Saturday’s 9-3 victory as Nick Ahmed homered twice and drove in four runs while Steven Souza Jr. added two hits and three RBIs. Paul Goldschmidt singled twice and is batting .389 with four home runs and 10 RBIs against the Giants this season. San Francisco fell back to .500 despite rookie Steven Duggar’s first career home run and five hits from Andrew McCutchen, including a solo blast. The Giants could use a quality outing from Derek Holland on Sunday to give a boost to a rotation that has struggled in recent weeks and lacks a strong No. 2 starter following Johnny Cueto’s season-ending injury.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Derek Holland (5-8, 3.90 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (3-2, 5.05)

Cueto’s absence likely will result in more opportunities for Holland, who is winless since June 20 while shuffling between the rotation and the bullpen. The 31-year-old settled for a no-decision after giving up two runs over five frames against San Diego on Monday. Holland is 0-1 with a 4.61 ERA in three career starts against Arizona and has struggled to contain Eduardo Escobar (6-for-13, one homer).

Ray is seeking his first victory since June 27 after giving up four runs and two hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Texas on Monday. The 26-year-old native of Tennessee posted a 2.89 ERA in a breakout 2017 season but has battled inconsistency this season, recording an 87-to-33 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 13 starts. Hunter Pence is 7-for-16 against Ray, who is 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 10 career starts versus San Francisco.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants C Buster Posey was held out of Saturday’s lineup (concussion protocol) but is expected to start Sunday’s contest at first base.

2. Souza has gone 21-for-62 with one home run and 13 RBIs over his last 17 games.

3. San Francisco recalled RHPs Derek Law and Pierce Johnson from Triple-A Sacramento and optioned RHP Chris Stratton and INF Kelby Tomlinson to the River Cats.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 7, Giants 4