Arizona @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2018 ) Texas 0, Arizona 6

The Arizona Diamondbacks used a pronounced power display to jump back into sole possession of first place in the National League West. Fresh off a five-homer performance, the Diamondbacks (65-54) would love to flex their offensive muscle again on Monday when they open an abbreviated two-game interleague series against the host Texas Rangers (52-68).

Paul Goldschmidt belted a pair of homers in Sunday's 9-2 romp over Cincinnati, giving him 10 hits - including six for extra bases (four doubles, two homers) to go along with four RBIs and three runs scored during his last six games. The 30-year-old has reached base safely in 19 straight contests, although he was just 1-for-7 as Arizona and Texas split their two-game series to end July. While the Diamondbacks are nursing a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in their division, the Rangers reside comfortably in the basement of the American League West after dropping three of four to the New York Yankees. Joey Gallo continued his blistering August by collecting two hits and a run scored in Sunday's 7-2 setback versus the Yankees, although he went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in the previous series against Arizona.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Arizona, FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (12-7, 2.89 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Bartolo Colon (6-10, 5.18)

Greinke answered winning seven straight decisions with back-to-back losses despite yielding a total of three runs on seven hits over 13 innings in setbacks to San Francisco and Philadelphia, respectively. The 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner walked four batters against the Phillies on Tuesday after issuing just two free passes in his previous four games combined. Adrian Beltre (5-for-16) and Elvis Andrus (5-for-17) have fared well versus the 34-year-old Greinke, who owns a 3-5 career mark against Texas despite sporting a 2.61 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.

Colon snapped a five-start losing skid on Tuesday despite allowing four runs on eight hits over seven innings in an 11-4 victory versus Seattle. The 45-year-old Dominican permitted five runs on seven hits across five frames in a 6-0 setback at Arizona on July 31. A.J. Pollock launched a solo homer in that encounter off Colon, who sports a 1-3 mark with a 4.67 ERA in six career meetings with the Diamondbacks.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas OF Shin-Soo Choo homered twice against Arizona on July 30, marking the last time he has gone deep in a game.

2. Diamondbacks OF David Peralta has homered in back-to-back outings to improve his hit total to 20 in August after recording 25 all of last month.

3. Beltre went 1-for-8 with three strikeouts in the previous series against Arizona.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 4, Rangers 2