Diamondbacks at Marlins
The Arizona Diamondbacks reportedly are on the verge of becoming sellers as the trade deadline looms despite being only 2 1/2 games back in the National League wild-card race, but it was a pair of likely holdovers who stepped up in a big way in their latest win. The Diamondbacks attempt to break out of their recent pattern of alternating wins and losses on Sunday, when they visit the Miami Marlins for the third contest of their four-game series.
A source told MLB.com on Saturday that Arizona will listen to offers for a number of their veteran players - a group that includes former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke and Sunday's scheduled starter Robbie Ray. Nick Ahmed and Jake Lamb appear to be safe, however, and both were instrumental in the Diamondbacks' 9-2 rout on Saturday as the former hit a grand slam while tying his career high of five RBIs and the latter belted a two-run homer. The Marlins lost for the first time in four contests on Saturday after becoming the first team in over five years to score three or more runs - all on a sacrifice flies - and win as they posted a 3-2 comeback victory in Friday's opener. Starlin Castro - another veteran possibly headed elsewhere before the July 31 deadline - went 2-for-3 in the loss and is batting .296 since the All-Star break.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (9-6, 3.95 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Elieser Hernandez (1-4, 5.24)
Ray registered at least 10 strikeouts for the fourth time this season and won his fourth straight start overall on Monday against Baltimore after yielding three runs - including two homers - over six innings. The former All-Star ranks 10th in the major leagues with 162 strikeouts but also finds himself in a three-way tie among NL hurlers for the most home runs allowed with 21. Castro has recorded three singles in seven career at-bats against Ray, who is 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA in two starts at Marlins Park.
Hernandez returns to the rotation to make his sixth start of the season after Miami decided to move Trevor Richards to the bullpen. The 24-year-old Venezuelan posted a 9.54 ERA over five relief appearances since his last turn in Washington on July 4, when he suffered a loss after permitting three runs in 4 1/3 frames. Lamb (2-for-4) and David Peralta (3-for-4) each have belted a home run off Hernandez, who lost both of his starts to Arizona as a rookie in 2018.
WALK-OFFS
1. After batting .216 in June, Ahmed is hitting .313 this month.
2. Miami on Saturday traded RHPs Sergio Romo and Chris Vallimont along with a player to be named to Minnesota for 1B Lewin Diaz.
3. Arizona 3B Eduardo Escobar needs one home run and four RBIs to match last year's career highs in both categories as he enters Sunday with 22 blasts and 80 RBIs.