Arizona @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 29, 2018 ) Arizona 5, San Diego 4

Despite what figures to be a strong finish to the season, the Arizona Diamondbacks went from potential National League West champions to a team on the outside looking in at the postseason. The Diamondbacks hope to put a positive spin on an otherwise forgettable September with their fourth win in five games Sunday, when they visit the San Diego Padres for the season finale for both teams.

Rookie Ildemaro Vargas hit his first home run, stole his first base and drove in three runs to lead the Diamondbacks (82-79) to a 5-4 victory on Saturday, assuring them consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2007-08. The fact Arizona had to settle for that benchmark was a reflection of its poor performance for the month (8-18), which saw it go from leading the division at the end of August to falling as far back as nine games on two occasions this week. The Padres (65-96) expected to make a run at respectability this season after adding the likes of Eric Hosmer via free agency to the middle of their order, but they are assured of finishing with their worst record since posting a 63-99 mark in 2008. San Diego is 6-12 against Arizona this season and has dropped eight of the clubs' last 10 meetings at Petco Park.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (6-2, 3.91 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (8-9, 4.14)

Ray is unbeaten in his last 13 starts dating to a July 12 loss in Colorado, but he settled for his 10th no-decision over that time after allowing two runs and fanning seven over five innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. The 2017 All-Star is 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA and 70 strikeouts across 53 2/3 frames over his last 10 outings but has not worked past the sixth inning in any of them, usually due to high pitch counts. Ray is 1-0 with a 4.20 ERA in three starts against San Diego this season.

Lucchesi will attempt to finish his rookie campaign at .500 but is coming off his worst start of the season at Los Angeles last Sunday, when he surrendered a season-high seven runs and seven hits - three homers - over 3 2/3 innings in a loss. The 25-year-old was solid in his previous five turns, however, going 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA. Paul Goldschmidt (7-for-11) and Nick Ahmed (5-for-11) each have homered twice versus Lucchesi, who has posted a 6.85 ERA while losing all five starts against Arizona this year.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Diamondbacks' 20 road wins inside the division are tied for the third-most in a season in club history and one shy of the 2001 World Series champion club for second place.

2. San Diego SS Freddy Galvis went 0-for-4 on Saturday to drop his average over the last 10 games to .419, but he needs only one extra-base hit on Sunday to reach 50 for the first time in his career.

3. Arizona's starting pitchers have recorded 945 strikeouts, one shy of matching the 1969 Houston Astros for the sixth-highest total in the NL since 1913.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Padres 3