Arizona @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2019 ) Arizona 9, San Diego 0

San Diego Padres star Manny Machado is battling a lengthy slump as he heads into the final week of his first season with the team. Machado and the Padres look to get untracked Saturday when they continue their three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.

Machado entered the weekend batting .193 with four homers and 15 RBIs over his last 44 games and struggled again in Friday’s 9-0 loss, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts to drop to .251 overall as the Padres lost for the eighth time in their last nine games. “He’s out there grinding,” manager Andy Green told reporters. “He hasn’t necessarily been in stride lately. He’s motivated to win and win games that matter. That’s a big motivating factor for him.” Arizona has won four of its last six games but sits five games behind Milwaukee for the second National League wild-card spot with eight games to play. The Diamondbacks will be without All-Star Ketel Marte, who miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his back on Friday.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Luke Weaver (4-3, 3.03 ERA) vs. Padres RH Cal Quantrill (6-8, 5.33)

Weaver is set to return from the injured list to start in place of rookie Zac Gallen, who is being shut down after throwing 171 1/3 innings this season between the majors and minor leagues. The 26-year-old Weaver has been out since May 26 with a mild right flexor pronator strain and a mild right UCL sprain. He is expected to throw about 30 pitches Saturday after throwing 28 pitches in a minor league rehab outing for Class A Advanced Visalia on Sept. 13.

Quantrill was 2-2 with a 2.70 ERA in four starts from Aug. 3-20 but has struggled in his last four outings, going 0-4 with a 15.12 ERA since Aug. 27. The 24-year-old rookie allowed four runs on six hits over three innings in last Sunday’s 10-5 loss to Colorado. Quantrill faced the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Sept. 2 and was tagged for eight runs on 10 hits over five frames in the 14-7 loss.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arizona 2B Wilmer Flores is hitting .400 with six home runs and 18 RBI in his last 24 games.

2. San Diego OF Wil Myers is batting .339 with four homers and 14 RBIs since Aug. 31.

3. Arizona’s Carson Kelly is tied with Miguel Montero (18 in 2011) for the club record for home runs as a catcher.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 7, Padres 4