Padres at Diamondbacks
The confidence level is rising for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have won seven of their last eight games to stay in the hunt for the second National League wild card spot. The Diamondbacks look to maintain their momentum Tuesday when they continue their three-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres.
Josh Rojas, Eduardo Escobar, Ketel Marte and Christian Walker each homered in Monday’s 14-7 victory as Arizona remained 3 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second wild card spot. “I feel like every game we’re in we think we’re going to win the game,” outfielder Tim Locastro told reporters. “And I think that’s the attitude in this clubhouse, and down the road during the stretch we’re going to continue that.” The Padres had won seven of the last eight meetings but were unable to recover from an early 8-0 deficit Monday. One bright spot has been the play of rookie infielder Ty France, who has gone deep three times in the past two games after hitting two homers in his first 48 major league contests.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Ronald Bolanos (NR) vs. Diamondbacks RH Merrill Kelly (9-13, 4.91)
San Diego purchased Bolanos’ contract from Double-A Amarillo on Monday and he'll make his major league debut after the 23-year-old went 8-5 with a 4.23 ERA in 15 starts (13 games) for the Sod Poodles. Bolanos opened the season in Class-A Lake Elsinore and posted a 2.85 ERA in 10 starts covering 53 2/3 innings. The 6-3, 220-pound native of Cuba has recorded 142 strikeouts over 130 1/3 innings across two minor league levels this season.
Kelly struggled with his control again and received a no-decision Thursday after giving up three runs over four innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 30-year-old rookie has not completed six innings in four straight starts and owns a troubling 19-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio over that stretch. Eric Hosmer has four hits and four RBIs in seven at-bats against Kelly, who is 1-1 with a 7.82 ERA in three career starts versus San Diego.
WALK-OFFS
1. Escobar is 10-for-23 with four home runs and seven RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.
2. The Padres have set a franchise record with 105 home runs on the road.
3. The Diamondbacks recalled RHP Jimmie Sherfy from Triple-A Reno.