Miami @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2019 ) Arizona 6, Miami 11

The Arizona Diamondbacks have put themselves in jeopardy of missing the postseason for the seventh time in eight seasons thanks to a stretch during which they've lost seven of the last eight contests. The club attempts to cling to its slim wild-card hopes when it hosts the Miami Marlins on Monday for the opener of their three-game series.

Arizona lost two of three to Cincinnati after dropping a 3-1 decision on Sunday, recording just one hit in the victory, and sits 5 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second wild-card spot in the National League with three other teams between them. Ketel Marte recorded two of the four hits registered in the latest setback by the Diamondbacks, who play nine of their final 12 games against sub-.500 clubs. Miami suffered its sixth defeat in seven contests as it was edged 2-1 at San Francisco on Sunday. Jon Berti went 2-for-3 with an RBI - his first in 11 games - in the loss as the Marlins were limited to five runs in the three-game series.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (5-8, 4.97 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (12-8, 4.30)

Lopez escaped with a no-decision against Milwaukee on Wednesday after yielding five runs on five hits and four walks over five innings. The 23-year-old Venezuelan has gone 0-3 in four turns since defeating Pittsburgh on June 15. Lopez, who faces Arizona for the first time, has posted a 7.71 ERA in eight outings on the road as opposed to a 3.22 mark in 10 home starts.

Ray was limited to two-thirds of an inning against the Mets in New York on Wednesday due to a blister, exiting after surrendering five runs and five hits - including two homers. The 27-year-old Tennessean has worked more than five frames just once in his last seven outings but posted a 3-1 record in that span. Ray fell to 2-3 with a 2.43 ERA in five career starts against the Marlins as he took the loss in Miami on July 28 despite giving up three runs - two earned - and registering a season high-tying 11 strikeouts over six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marte went 2-for-4 on Sunday to raise his batting average to .327 after going 1-for-9 over his previous three games.

2. Miami's starting pitchers posted a 1.96 ERA in the three-game set versus San Francisco, allowing only four runs over 18 1/3 innings.

3. Arizona 2B Wilmer Flores delivered an RBI single on Sunday to improve to 4-for-11 over his last three contests.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 2