Philadelphia @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 7, 2018 ) Philadelphia 5, Arizona 2

The Philadelphia Phillies are playing solid baseball and aim for their seventh victory in eight games when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday afternoon for the rubber match of their three-game series. The Phillies expanded their lead over Atlanta in the National League East to 1 1/2 games with Tuesday's 5-2 victory.

Nick Williams went 2-for-5 with a homer and Asdrubal Cabrera was 2-for-3 with a two-run double as Philadelphia won despite registering only six hits. Slugger Rhys Hoskins walked three times on Tuesday but was hitless in two at-bats and is 0-for-12 over his last four contests. The Diamondbacks fell one-half game behind first-place Los Angeles in the NL West with Tuesday's loss and the Dodgers' victory in Oakland. David Peralta, who hit the game-winning homer in the 14th inning in the series opener, recorded two hits on Tuesday and is 14-for-28 with three homers over his last six games.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (8-8, 3.80 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (8-4, 3.31)

Velasquez has gone 3-0 with a 0.71 ERA over his last five appearances (four starts). The 26-year-old defeated Miami in his last outing as he gave up two hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Velasquez lost to Arizona on April 24, when he yielded four runs and four hits in 4 2/3 frames and is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four career meetings (two starts).

Corbin has posted a 2-0 record over his last three turns after enduring a seven-start winless streak during which he went 0-2. The 29-year-old defeated San Francisco in his last outing as he permitted three runs and seven hits in six innings. Corbin is 2-2 with a 4.44 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies RHP Pat Neshek retired the side on five pitches in the ninth inning on Tuesday to record his second save of the season.

2. Arizona CF A.J. Pollock went 1-for-3 with an RBI on Tuesday after missing back-to-back starts due to tired legs.

3. Philadelphia 1B Carlos Santana has recorded just one homer and two RBIs over his last 11 games.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 2