Diamondbacks intention to enhance standing in opener vs. Padres

There are many unknowns as the Arizona Diamondbacks finish the regular season with a three-game series against the San Diego Padres.

But Arizona knows it needs to rack up as many wins as it can, beginning with Friday night’s game with the Padres in Phoenix.

The Diamondbacks (88-71) are part of a three-team battle for the final two National League wild-card spots, along with the New York Mets (87-70) and Atlanta Braves (86-71).

The Mets and Braves had the final two contests of their three-game series in Atlanta postponed due to rain from two different storms, the second being Hurricane Helene. The two teams are slated to play a doubleheader on Monday that could decide which teams are part of the postseason field.

“Why not?” Arizona first baseman Christian Walker said. “I think anything to make it more exciting and (add) some more fireworks. It’ll be fun to follow and watch, for sure.”

At the same time, the Diamondbacks can help themselves by taking care of business against the Padres (91-68).

“We’ll just try to do the best we can for the next three games,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “We know who’s coming to town, and we’ve got to be at our absolute best, and I’m sure we will be ready for that challenge.”

The Diamondbacks snapped a three-game slide with Wednesday’s 8-2 win over the San Francisco Giants before being off Thursday.

The Padres previously clinched a wild-card spot but were eliminated from the NL West race with Thursday night’s 7-2 loss to the host Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Very disappointed,” San Diego manager Mike Shildt said afterward. “That’s a goal we set out for. We put a good run at it. We had a chance at it and came up short. But we move on.”

Now San Diego needs to win two games this weekend to clinch the top wild-card spot and gain the No. 4 seed. That would give the Padres home-field advantage in the opening round.

“We’re excited what is in our window going forward,” Shildt said. “We will shrug this off and be ready to play in Arizona and to go after the ultimate goal.”

San Diego lost the last two contests of the three-game set against the Dodgers after winning nine of its previous 10 games.

The Padres were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position on Thursday.

After the setback, San Diego moved right-hander Yu Darvish (6-3, 3.18 ERA) up a day to start Friday’s opener.

Darvish is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA over his past three starts. He struck out nine in a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday when he gave up two runs and three hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Darvish, 38, hasn’t faced the Diamondbacks this season. He is 8-4 with a 3.55 ERA in 18 career starts against Arizona.

Ketel Marte (11-for-37) and Walker (8-for-28) each have two homers against Darvish. Corbin Carroll is 6-for-11 with a homer.

Right-hander Merrill Kelly (5-0, 3.71) will be on the mound Friday for Arizona.

Kelly is 9-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 15 career starts against San Diego. This will be his first outing against the Padres this season.

Fernando Tatis Jr. is 8-for-22 with four homers off Kelly. Manny Machado (6-for-35), Jake Cronenworth (4-for-22) and Elias Diaz (5-for-25) each have one homer against Kelly.

The 35-year-old Kelly is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in four September starts. He has struck out 22 and walked four in 22 innings this month.

Kelly defeated the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday when he gave up two hits over five scoreless innings.

The Diamondbacks and Padres have split their 10 meetings this season.

–Field Level Media