Arizona Vs. San Diego: Diamondbacks Face Padres In Battle Of Improbable Wild Card Hopefuls

The Arizona Diamondbacks begin a three-game series at home against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, with both teams playing well and clinging to improbable playoff hopes. The Diamondbacks have won six of 10, and are 4½ games back in the NL Wild Card race. The Padres are six back and have taken eight of their last 10 games.

Ian Kennedy takes the mound for Arizona with a 13-11 record and a 4.21 ERA. The 27-year-old right-hander was excellent is his last start, tossing 7⅓ shutout innings in a victory over the Dodgers. Kennedy has faced the Padres three times in 2012, going 1-1 while giving up 11 runs in 18⅓ innings pitched.

The Padres send left-hander Eric Stults to the mound. He is 6-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 17 appearances this season, 12 of which have been starts. Stults won his last start against the Cardinals, allowing three runs in 5⅓ innings pitched. The Diamondbacks have seen Stults twice this year, scoring three earned runs (and six runs) in 13⅓ innings.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. MT at Chase Field.

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