San Diego @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2011 ) San Diego 5, Arizona 6

THE STORY: Are the Arizona Diamondbacks peaking too early? That might be the only possible concern for a team that is closing on its first division title since 2007. The Diamondbacks, who won their franchise-record 15th straight home game Saturday, aim for a four-game sweep of the visiting San Diego Padres on Sunday. Given San Diego's 6-24 record at Chase Field since mid-2008, the odds don't look good for the Padres.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Channel 4SD, Fox Sports Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Wade LeBlanc (2-5, 5.33 ERA) at Diamondbacks RH Josh Collmenter (9-8, 3.10 ERA).

LeBlanc, who allowed four runs over five innings last Tuesday against the Giants, has allowed less than three runs in a start just once this year. He is 1-2 with a 5.76 ERA in six career starts against Arizona, and he’s been tagged with the loss in two of his three career starts at Chase Field. Collmenter gave up one run over 6 1/3 innings last Tuesday against the Rockies, and he’s allowed two runs or less in six consecutive starts. The Diamondbacks are 5-1 in his last six home starts.

ABOUT THE PADRES (62-84): In a month where the Padres are essentially holding open auditions for next season, rookie Andy Parrino is making a case to stick around. Parrino will likely never be an everyday player, but the team likes his versatility. Since being promoted from Double-A San Antonio on Aug. 26, he's appeared at four different positions. Parrino is hitting .217 in his first 23 at-bats, but has walked five times. He could see more starts at third base with Logan Forsythe (knee) out for the season. James Darnell got the start at third base on Saturday and hit his first major league home run. It’s been an inconsistent season for starter Mat Latos, but his slider has been dazzling over his last two starts. Latos has gone at least six innings in eight straight starts, and he’s looking like the ace the Padres envisioned several years ago.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (85-61): Second baseman Aaron Hill extended his season-high hitting streak to 13 games with a single on Saturday. Hill is 22-for-53 during his streak, giving the Diamondbacks everything they could have hoped for when they acquired him from Toronto on Aug. 23. Kirk Gibson, a strong candidate for the National League manager of the year award, clearly believes in utilizing his full roster. He’s given reserve players such as Sean Burroughs frequent starts and juggled his lineup to keep everyone fresh. Gerardo Parra batted leadoff Saturday for just the second time this season, and Geoff Blum hit in the fifth spot with Lyle Overbay batting seventh. Overbay has been rejuvenated since signing as a free agent on Aug. 13. He homered in the ninth inning Saturday to tie the game, and his bases-loaded walk gave Arizona the win in the bottom of the tenth.

FINAL PITCH: Mired in a 0-for-28 slump, Padres second baseman Orlando Hudson was kept out of the starting lineup in back-to-back games. He’s expected to start Sunday in the series finale.