Arizona @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 5, 2018 ) San Francisco 3, Arizona 2

The Arizona Diamondbacks are clinging to a one-game lead in the National League West as they begin a seven-game road trip that runs right into September. The Diamondbacks kick off their trek on Monday with the opener of a three-game set against the division-rival San Francisco Giants, who need to have a big series in order to avoid falling out of the NL playoff race entirely.

Arizona fell back into a tie for first in the NL West by dropping its first two contests against Seattle over the weekend but took the finale 5-2 on Sunday to move one game ahead of Colorado. The Diamondbacks are just 2 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers and need to avoid looking ahead to a four-game set in Los Angeles that begins on Thursday. The Giants are eight games out in both the NL west and the wild-card race as they come off a series win over Texas during which rookie Steven Duggar registered two hits in Saturday's win and his first career triple in Sunday's 3-1 triumph. Duggar hopes to remain hot on Monday against Patrick Corbin while San Francisco counters with Chris Stratton.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (10-4, 3.17 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chris Stratton (8-7, 5.37)

Corbin has posted a 4-0 record over his last six starts but did not factor in the decision against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday despite allowing two runs while registering eight strikeouts in six innings. The 29-year-old has gone 11 outings without serving up a home run, tying the franchise record set by Miguel Batista. Corbin has yet to lose to San Francisco this season, going 3-0 with a 2.20 ERA in five starts.

Stratton is winless in his last six outings and has surrendered at least five earned runs in three of those outings. The 28-year-old posted a quality start last time out as he held the New York Mets to two runs on six hits without issuing a walk in 6 1/3 innings. Stratton was not at his best at Arizona on Aug. 3, when he was ripped for six runs on 10 hits and four walks in three frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants C Buster Posey is scheduled to undergo season-ending hip surgery on Monday.

2. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games.

3. San Francisco 2B Joe Panik has recorded multiple hits in five of his last eight contests.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Giants 2