Toronto @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2013 ) Toronto 4, Arizona 1

The Arizona Diamondbacks are teetering on the edge of the National League wild-card race and are in need of a long September winning stretch as they enter Tuesday’s home contest against the Toronto Blue Jays. Arizona lost Monday’s series opener for its fourth loss in five games to fall seven games behind the Cincinnati Reds for the NL’s second wild card. Toronto is playing solid baseball with six victories in its past eight games.

Blue Jays star Edwin Encarnacion blasted his 35th homer in Monday’s 4-1 victory and also raised his RBI count to 101. He is only the fourth player in Toronto history to have both 35 homers and 100 RBIs in back-to-back seasons (joining Jose Bautista, Carlos Delgado and Shawn Green) and the fifth to hit 35 homers in consecutive campaigns (with Fred McGriff joining the aforementioned group). The Diamondbacks hit into four double plays in Monday’s loss with NL MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt bouncing into a game-ending one against Toronto closer Casey Janssen.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), FSN Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Todd Redmond (2-2, 4.30 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (9-9, 3.55)

Redmond defeated the New York Yankees in his last outing when he gave up two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings. It was a sharp turnaround from being touched up for eight runs (seven earned) and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings while losing to Houston. Richmond is 0-2 with a 7.06 ERA in six road appearances (four starts) this season.

Miley is in the midst of a four-start winless streak that began after he defeated Tampa Bay on Aug. 6. He pitched well against San Diego in his last outing but suffered the defeat despite allowing just two runs and seven hits in seven innings. Miley has walked two or fewer batters in each of his last five turns.

WALK-OFFS

1. Encarnacion has hit seven homers in 13 career games at Chase Field.

2. Goldschmidt is hitless in nine at-bats over his last three outings and hasn’t homered in his last 11 games.

3. Blue Jays SS Jose Reyes has one extra-base hit over his last 20 games and his slugging percentage has dropped 65 points to .418.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 8, Blue Jays 6