San Diego @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2011 ) Arizona 3, San Diego 4
THE STORY: For the Arizona Diamondbacks to win the National League West, they’ll need to beat the San Diego Padres. After all, the Padres play seven of their next 16 games at Chase Field, beginning with Friday’s series opener. Arizona is riding a three-game win streak and leads the San Francisco Giants by three games in the division. The Padres are 13-7 over their last 20 games.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, Channel 4SD, FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Wade LeBlanc (2-2, 4.62 ERA) at Diamondbacks RH Josh Collmenter (7-8, 3.34 ERA)
LeBlanc has won his last two starts, allowing six runs on eight hits over 11 1/3 innings. He is 1-1 with a 5.26 ERA in five career starts against the Diamondbacks, but he's making his first appearance against Arizona this season.
Collmenter gave up one run over seven innings on Sunday against the Braves. He is second among National League rookie pitchers with seven wins. The Diamondbacks are 1-4 in Collmenter’s last five starts against teams from the NL West.
ABOUT THE PADRES (60-71): Infielder Andy Parrino was recalled from Triple-A Tucson to replace James Darnell, who was sent back to the minors to get regular playing time. Parrino is a career .264 hitter in the minors, and he’s expected to serve as a utiltyman. Darnell was 4-for-20 (.200) with the Padres and was mostly used as a pinch hitter. Darnell can play both third base and left field, but the Padres appear set for next year at both positions with Kyle Blanks and Chase Headley. After an impressive season in the minors, it’s possible Darnell could be traded during the offseason. Outfielder Will Venable has rebounded from a dismal first half that included a demotion to Triple-A. Venable is hitting .310 (31-for-100) with three home runs, 16 RBIs, and nine steals since the All-Star break. He enters Friday’s action with a five-game hitting streak (7-for-21).
ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (72-59): Arizona shook up its middle infield this week when second baseman Kelly Johnson was traded to Toronto for Aaron Hill and John McDonald. Hill went 0-for-4 in his Diamondbacks debut Wednesday, and he was hitting just .225 with six home runs in Toronto. Arizona is hoping he rediscovers his power stroke in the desert after hitting 36 and 26 homers in each of the past two seasons. McDonald will share time with Willie Bloomquist at shortstop after Arizona designated Cody Ransom for assignment this week. Ransom had impressive numbers at Triple-A Reno when he was promoted July 21, but he hit .152 in 12 games with the Diamondbacks. First-round pick Trevor Bauer gave up one run while striking out seven over five innings for Double-A Mobile on Thursday, and he has 40 strikeouts in 24 innings this season. There’s a chance he could be promoted to work out of the bullpen in September.
FINAL PITCH: The Diamondbacks are 9-1 in their last 10 games against a team with a losing record.