San Diego @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2011 ) San Diego 0, Arizona 5

THE STORY: It's not September yet, but there figures to be plenty of scoreboard watching when the Arizona Diamondbacks continue their three-game series with the visiting San Diego Padres on Saturday. While Arizona tries to extend its three-game lead in the National League West, eyes will also be on the Giants’ game against Houston. Arizona has won four straight, while the Padres have won five of their last seven.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Channel 4SD, FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Aaron Harang (12-3, 3.96 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Joe Saunders (8-11, 3.98 ERA).

Harang is 7-1 with a 3.38 ERA over his last 14 starts. He is 6-0 in nine road starts this season. Harang is 3-4 with a 1.82 ERA in 11 career games – 10 starts – against the Diamondbacks. The Padres are 6-2 in his last eight starts against a teams with winning records. Saunders is 8-6 with a 3.40 ERA over his last 17 starts since May 18. He is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts against the Padres this season and 3-3 lifetime with a 4.14 ERA in six starts. The Diamondbacks are 2-7 in Saunders’ last nine starts during the second game of a series.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (74-59): Arizona truly controls its own destiny, with 27 of its final 30 games against NL West teams. Arizona is 24-21 against the division. Left-handed reliever Joe Paterson has been an underrated star in the Diamondbacks’ bullpen. He retired the Padres in order in the ninth inning of Friday's 5-0 victory, and he’s gone 15 straight outings without allowing a run. Arizona is understandably focused on this season’s pennant race, but it’s hard not to be excited about the team’s pitching prospects. Along with Wade Miley, who’s already in the Diamondbacks’ rotation, top prospects Jarrod Parker, Trevor Bauer and Tyler Skaggs could all be in position to join the rotation next spring. Bauer could be promoted next week and work out of the bullpen in September, but Parker and Skaggs will likely be shut down next month after reaching their inning limits.

ABOUT THE PADRES (60-73): Closer Heath Bell isn’t going anywhere, at least until the offseason. Bell was withdrawn from waivers Friday after the Padres and San Francisco failed to reach a deal. Bell is eligible for free agency, but he’s expressed an interest in re-signing with San Diego. Utilityman Andy Parrino, who flied out to center Friday in his first major league at-bat, can play every position except for catcher and pitcher, and he’s a switch-hitter who hit .305 this season in the minors. Parrino doesn’t have the upside of prospects such as Anthony Rizzo and James Darnell, but he could fill a need on next year’s roster. Darnell was sent down to Triple-A Tucson to make room for Parrino, and he'll rejoin the Padres in another week. San Diego hasn't had much stability, but it used the same lineup for a season-high seventh consecutive game Friday.

FINAL PITCH: The Padres have lost 19 of their last 25 games at Chase Field dating back to July 7, 2008.