MLB Game Preview: San Diego Padres (63-51) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (54-60)

Game Overview

• Time: 9:40 PM ET / 6:40 PM PT
• Venue: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
• Broadcast: MLB Network, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports Arizona, Fubo (regional restrictions)
  This is the series finale of a three-game NL West showdown. The Diamondbacks lead the season series 5–4, but the Padres are surging and looking to take the rubber match after a dramatic 10–5 extra-innings win on Tuesday.

Pitching Matchup

• Nestor Cortes makes his Padres debut after being acquired from Milwaukee. He hasn’t pitched since April due to injury but brings a deceptive delivery and high strikeout upside.
• Anthony DeSclafani has been inconsistent, allowing 4 earned runs in just 2.1 innings in his last outing. He’ll need to contain a Padres lineup that’s averaging nearly 6 runs per game over its last 10.

Team Performance Snapshot
San Diego Padres

• Record: 63–51 (2nd in NL West)
• Road Record: 27–32
• Batting Average: .250 (13th in MLB)
• Slugging %: .380 (25th)
• Home Runs: 95 (29th)
• Runs Scored: 463 (25th)
• Team ERA: 3.26 over last 10 games
  
• Arizona Diamondbacks
• Record: 54–60 (4th in NL West)
• Home Record: 27–29
• Batting Average: .250 (13th in MLB)
• Slugging %: .437 (7th)
• Home Runs: 157 (7th)
• Runs Scored: 548 (8th)
• Team ERA: 5.23 over last 10 games

Players to Watch
San Diego Padres

• Manny Machado: .302 AVG, 29 doubles, 20 HR, 72 RBIs
• Luis Arraez: 15-for-42 (.357) with 1 HR and 4 RBIs over last 10 games
• Ramon Laureano: 8-for-18 with 2 triples, 1 HR, and 5 RBIs in last 4 games
  
• Arizona Diamondbacks
• Ketel Marte: 15 doubles, 21 HR, 44 RBIs
• Alek Thomas: 11-for-30 (.367) with 3 HR over last 10 games
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr.: 2 HR and 4 RBIs Tuesday; 8 RBIs in last 4 games

Betting Trends

• Padres ATS: 62–51
• Diamondbacks ATS: 53–59
• Padres are 8–2 in their last 10 games, averaging 5.9 runs per game
• Diamondbacks have scored 5+ runs in 4 of their last 5 games
• Over 9.5 runs has hit in 4 of Padres’ last 5 games

Injury Report
San Diego Padres

• Michael King (shoulder), Jhony Brito (forearm), Joe Musgrove (elbow) – 60-day IL
  
• Arizona Diamondbacks
• Kevin Ginkel (shoulder), Gabriel Moreno (hand), Tommy Henry (elbow), Pavin Smith (oblique), Ryan Thompson (scapular strain), Ildemaro Vargas (foot), Corbin Burnes (elbow), A.J. Puk (elbow), Blake Walston (elbow) – IL

Final Thoughts
The Padres vs. Diamondbacks matchup at Chase Field is a high-stakes NL West battle with playoff implications. With San Diego’s offense heating up and Nestor Cortes returning to action, the Padres are favored to take the series. Arizona’s power-hitting lineup will test Cortes early, but the Padres’ recent momentum gives them the edge.