Padres at Diamondbacks
Robbie Ray is pitching like the best left-hander in the National League West - and that's saying something for a division that includes three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw. Ray looks to continue a dominant stretch and avert a series sweep on Sunday, when the Arizona Diamondbacks wrap up their three-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres.
Ray has been all but unhittable in winning his last three starts - he's allowed a combined nine hits while racking up 33 strikeouts in an overpowering display that includes back-to-back wins over the major league-best Los Angeles Dodgers. He has handled the Padres with ease this season, posting a microscopic 0.63 era in winning both starts against them. San Diego halted Arizona's 13-game winning streak with a 10-6 victory on Friday and stunned the Diamondbacks by rallying for six runs in the top of ninth for an 8-7 win on Saturday. Wil Myers clubbed a pair of homers for the Padres on Saturday and is 6-for-13 with three blasts and six RBIs in his last three games.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, FSN Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Luis Perdomo (7-9, 4.62 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (12-5, 2.80)
Perdomo has recorded four straight quality starts, but he is 1-2 in that span after coming out on the short end of a 2-0 loss against St. Louis last time out. The 24-year-old Dominican has worked at least six frames in nine straight turns, but he lost both starts against the Diamondbacks this season while pitching to a ghastly 16.71 ERA. Paul Goldschmidt is 7-for-14 with two homers against him.
Ray suffered a concussion when he took a line drive off the head versus St. Louis on July 28 and missed nearly a month, but he has been masterful in his three starts since returning. He reached double digits in strikeouts for the eighth time this season by fanning a career-high 14 batters last time out against the Dodgers. Ray is 10-2 in his last 15 starts, allowing one run or less 10 times in that span.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks RF J.D. Martinez is 12-for-29 with six homers and 13 RBIs in his last six games.
2. Padres CF Manuel Margot is 7-for-13 over his last three contests.
3. Goldschmidt returned to the lineup after missing five games with an elbow injury and delivered an RBI single on Saturday.