Arizona @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2012 ) Arizona 4, Philadelphia 2
Until this week, road struggles had threatened to hold back the Arizona Diamondbacks from joining the National League's elite teams. But after entering the week with a 21-27 road mark, the Diamondbacks have opened their 10-game road trip with four straight wins, a streak they'll look to continue in the second game of a three-game series against Philadelphia.
The Phillies, who have lost five of seven, continued their rash of trades Friday, sending veteran right-hander Joe Blanton - Friday's scheduled starter - to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Diamondbacks have benefited from what seemed a minor deal before the deadline. Third baseman Chris Johnson, acquired from Houston last month, has eight RBIs in four games since the trade, including at least one in each contest.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona, CSN Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Joe Saunders (5-7, 3.62 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Roy Halladay (4-6, 4.33)
Saunders has gone at least six innings in seven straight starts with a stint on the disabled list sandwiched in the middle of that stretch. He is 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA in four starts since coming off the DL and took the loss Sunday against the New York Mets, allowing four runs over seven innings to snap a streak of six consecutive quality starts. Saunders is 1-2 with a 5.26 ERA in four starts against the Phillies.
Halladay's return from a seven-week stay on the disabled list hasn't gone as planned. He is 0-1 with a 5.82 ERA in three starts since coming back and took the loss Sunday at Atlanta, allowing three runs over six innings. Halladay is 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA in four starts against the Diamondbacks and has thrown complete games the last two times he has faced them.
WALK-OFFS
1. After allowing just one home run in his first eight starts, Halladay has allowed eight in his past six outings.
2. Diamondbacks C Miguel Montero, who has reached base in 11 straight games and is 15-for-34 during that stretch, is 4-for-8 against Halladay.
3. Phillies 1B Ryan Howard, who is mired in a 1-for-18 slump, is 0-for-12 against Saunders with five strikeouts.