Diamondbacks at Marlins
If the Arizona Diamondbacks want to mount a serious charge at the National League wild card leading into the trade deadline, taking advantage of seven straight games against two of the worst teams in baseball is probably a necessity. The Diamondbacks handled their business early this week by winning a series against Baltimore and turn their attention to another lackluster opponent beginning Friday when they visit Miami for the first of four versus the Marlins.
Arizona (52-51) is one of more than a handful of teams bunched together within four games of each other in the NL wild-card race, although the club did itself no favors by dropping five of seven contests to two of the teams (St. Louis and Milwaukee) it finds itself trailing coming out of the break. The Diamondbacks got back on track by taking the rubber match of their three-game set with the Orioles on Wednesday, getting a three-run homer from Carson Kelly en route to a 5-2 victory. Miami (38-62) solidified its hold on the the worst record in the NL by going 2-7 during a nine-game stretch in the days following the Midsummer Classic, but the Marlins got a pair of strong pitching performances in their last two contests to stop a four-game skid. After getting routed 9-1 in Monday's opener in Chicago, Miami held the White Sox to one run over the final two contests to take the series.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (10-4, 2.93 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (4-9, 4.25)
Greinke was in line for his third win in four outings Saturday against Milwaukee, but he had to settle for a no-decision despite allowing two runs over seven innings after his bullpen surrendered six following his exit. The former Cy Young Award owns a 2-1 record and 2.33 ERA over his last four turns despite getting tagged for five runs in St. Louis on July 14. Miami is the only opponent Greinke has never lost to, going 7-0 with a 3.19 in 12 appearances (11 starts) versus the Marlins.
Alcantara was fortunate to avoid his fourth loss in as many turns Saturday in Los Angeles after giving up six runs in five frames to the Dodgers. The 23-year-old has a 7.15 ERA during his winless streak, surrendering seven of his 13 home runs for the season during the stretch. Alcantara, who is one of only two rookies with a complete game this season, is 2-6 with a 4.19 ERA in 10 home starts as he faces Arizona for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks All-Star 2B Ketel Marte on Wednesday became the first player in club history to hit at least 10 home runs from both sides of the plate in a season.
2. Miami LHP Jarlin Garcia has worked a career-best 17 consecutive scoreless innings.
3. Arizona 3B Eduardo Escobar needs one more triple to become the 10th switch hitter in major-league history to amass at least 20 homers, 20 doubles and 10 triples in a single season.