Miami @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2012 ) Miami 2, Arizona 3

At the beginning of August, the Arizona Diamondbacks appeared ready to make a playoff push after moving two games out of first in the National League West. Just three weeks later, Arizona is on the verge of falling out of contention after losing two straight to Miami. The Diamondbacks are six games behind division-leading San Francisco heading into Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader against the Marlins, who have won five of their last seven games. The Diamondbacks still have 15 games remaining against the San Francisco Giants and and Los Angeles Dodgers, but they almost appear resigned to their fate after trading shortstop Stephen Drew on Monday and placing starting pitcher Joe Saunders on trade waivers.

The Marlins could be without outfielder Emilio Bonifacio for a while after he left Tuesday’s game with pain in his right knee. Bonifacio, who has already landed on the disabled list twice this season with a thumb injury, will undergo an MRI exam on Wednesday. Right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, who has hit five home runs in his last six games, might not start in one of Wednesday’s games in order to rest his surgically repaired knee. With Drew’s trade to Oakland, the Diamondbacks will give rookie Jake Elmore an extended look at shortstop. Elmore was hitting .344 for Triple-A Reno, but he isn’t projected as an everyday player by most scouts.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Wade LeBlanc (2-2, 2.50 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (13-8, 2.96)

LeBlanc gave up five runs over five innings last Friday against the Colorado Rockies, but he still managed to pick up his first win since July 4. The left-hander has a 3.54 ERA in his four starts since joining the rotation with a 13-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has a 9.17 ERA in four career starts covering 17 2/3 innings at Chase Field.

Miley remains in the NL Rookie of the Year discussion after going 4-3 with a 2.76 ERA in his seven starts since the All-Star break. He allowed one run over six innings last Friday against the Astros. The left-hander faced Miami on April 29, giving up an unearned run over 6 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arizona OF Justin Upton left Tuesday’s game in the second inning with a hamstring injury and is listed as day-to-day.

2. Wednesday will mark the first doubleheader at Chase Field, which opened in 1998.

3. The Marlins are 18-11 this season against teams from the National League West.