Diamondbacks at Padres
Eduardo Escobar appears to be a perfect fit for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who acquired the versatile infielder from Minnesota on Thursday. Escobar figures to start at third base for the second straight contest on Sunday, when the Diamondbacks aim for a sweep of their three-game series against the host San Diego Padres.
Escobar started in place of Jake Lamb (shoulder) and batted fifth in Saturday’s 9-4 win, going 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored to help the Diamondbacks remain 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Jon Jay added three hits and three RBIs for Arizona, which has won five of its last seven following a three-game losing streak. The rebuilding Padres are 2-6 since the All-Star break and have lost 11 of their last 13 games despite the play of leadoff hitter Manuel Margot, who is 13-for-32 during his career-high nine-game hitting streak. Margot has been batting in front of Wil Myers, who is hitting .293 with seven homers and 21 RBIs in July after battling injuries for most of the previous two months.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Clay Buchholz (3-1, 2.38 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (5-5, 3.34)
Buchholz returned after missing a month with a strained oblique and held the Chicago Cubs to one run over 6 2/3 innings in Tuesday’s 6-3 victory. “It was a great effort by him,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told reporters. “When you get him back at this point in time, it's a huge boost for us.” Buchholz, who is facing the Padres for the first time since 2016, owns a 2-0 record and 1.04 ERA over his last three starts.
Lucchesi snapped a two-start skid in impressive fashion on Monday, allowing two runs with six strikeouts and no walks over 5 1/3 innings in a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets. “There's no fear in him,” Padres manager Andy Green told reporters. “He stepped up and pitched a great baseball game.” The 25-year-old rookie has faced Arizona twice in his first 15 career starts, going 0-2 with a 5.23 ERA and nine strikeouts against five walks in 10 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Diego has allowed at least six runs in each setback during its four-game losing streak.
2. The Diamondbacks are 18-7 on the road since June 8.
3. The Padres placed RHP Luis Perdomo on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder and activated LHP Jose Castillo (hamstring) from the DL.