The San Diego Padres (92-68) are set to battle the Arizona Diamondbacks (88-72) in their final regular season game on Sunday afternoon. This pivotal matchup will take place at Chase Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 3:10 PM ET.
Starting for the Padres is Martin Perez, boasting a record of 5-5 and a 4.25 ERA. The Diamondbacks will respond with Brandon Pfaadt, who holds a 10-10 record and a 4.80 ERA.
The series has been competitive recently, with Arizona and San Diego splitting their last ten encounters.
**This preview was written prior to Saturday’s game.**
The MLB predictions provided in this article are thoroughly researched.
Padres Looking to Continue Momentum After Key Victory
The Padres recently ended a three-series win streak with a setback against the Dodgers but quickly rebounded with a strong performance against the Diamondbacks on Friday. With a win on Sunday, they can clinch the regular season series and potentially hinder Arizona’s playoff aspirations.
San Diego is averaging 4.71 runs per game, leading the league with a .264 batting average. Their on-base percentage is .325, which ranks sixth, while their slugging percentage of .421 is seventh overall.
Key contributors include Louis Arraez, who leads the Padres with a .318 batting average, and Manny Machado, who boasts 29 home runs and 105 RBIs this season.
On the pitching front, the Padres have been solid, allowing just 3.79 runs per game. They are 12th in the league for opponent batting average at .238, and their team ERA of 3.84 also ranks 12th. With a 1.22 WHIP, they stand seventh in that category.
Perez delivered an impressive performance in his last outing, surrendering only one run on two hits across 5.1 innings against the White Sox, which led to a 6-2 victory. A repeat of this effort will be essential for a Padres win.
Diamondbacks Seeking to Rebound and Secure Playoff Position
As the regular season draws to a close, the Diamondbacks find themselves in a precarious position, having lost four out of their last five games. They are in close competition with Atlanta and New York for the final Wildcard berths, making Sunday’s game critical for their postseason hopes.
Arizona is averaging a robust 5.47 runs per game, sitting second in the league with a .263 batting average. Their on-base percentage leads the league at .337, and their slugging percentage of .439 is also second.
Notable players for the Diamondbacks include Ketel Marte, who leads the team with a .292 batting average and 35 home runs, alongside Eugenio Suarez, who has driven in 99 runs this season.
However, the pitching staff has faced challenges, allowing an average of 4.60 runs per game. They rank 29th in opponent batting average at .263 and have a team ERA of 4.64, placing them 27th in the league. Their WHIP of 1.36 also ranks 27th.
Pfaadt struggled in his latest appearance, yielding six hits and five runs in just 2.2 innings during an 11-0 defeat to San Francisco. An improved performance will be crucial for the Diamondbacks to secure a win on Sunday.
Smart Bets for Padres vs. Diamondbacks Showdown
In recent form, the Padres have triumphed in six of their last eight games, while the Diamondbacks have faltered, losing four of five. Arizona’s offense has shown promise, scoring 11 runs in their last three games compared to San Diego’s 10 runs. However, the Padres appear to have the upper hand against right-handed pitchers, and Pfaadt has struggled, allowing 14 runs in his last three starts. He has also given up 11 runs in three outings against the Padres this season. With Arizona’s bullpen in a slump, they may find it difficult to contain San Diego’s offense.
On the other side, Perez has been reliable for the Padres, allowing just two runs over his last three starts. Given his recent performance and the Diamondbacks’ offensive inconsistency, the smart bet would be to back San Diego to cover the money line.
