After Losing Three Straight, San Diego Padres Take On the Arizona Diamondbacks in an NL West Tilt

Jun 23, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne (40) throws to the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

The two worst teams in the NL West square off in the finale of their three-game weekend series this afternoon at Petco Park, as the San Diego Padres try to stave off a sweep at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks at 1:10 p.m.

Entering play Sunday, the Padres and Diamondbacks are both 12 games out of first place in the West. The back-to-back wins by Arizona in the series, give them the 6-2 edge in the season series. That makes the Padres one of just four teams the Diamondbacks have a winning record against this season.

Odrisamer Despaigne (1-0, 0.00) will make his second big league start for San Diego, opposed by Mike Bolsinger(1-3, 4.78) for Arizona.

In his debut last week, Despaigne twirled a gem against the Giants, spreading four hits, over seven shut out innings, with one strikeout, and no walks. In just his first season playing state-side, the 27-year-old La Habana native went 1-3 with a 6.03 ERA over seven games in the minor leagues. He was pressed into service last week, as the injuries to the Padres’ starting rotation continued to pile up.

With his seven inning performance in his debut, Despaigne became just the seventh pitcher since 1914 to toss seven or more shut-out innings and not allow a walk in his big league debut. The Padres media notes further point out Despaigne became just the fourth Padre to pitch through the seventh in his big league debut.

Bolsinger, who like Despaigne began the season in the minors, has not won a decision since April 24th, when he beat the Cubs with a six and two thirds-inning performance, in which he allowed just a single earned run. Over his last four starts, he has allowed 12 runs in 24 innings. He was the hard luck loser in his last outing, when he held the Giants to just a single run, on five hits, over seven and two thirds innings. It will be his first appearance against the Padres.

Last night, the Padres snapped the longest streak of games without allowing a home run by any team in the big leagues this season. It was nine games between Robinson Cano’s home run off of Eric Stults on June 17th, and Miguel Montero’s two run home run last night, also off of Stults. According to the Padres media notes, the Padres have allowed the fifth fewest home runs of any team in the Majors. Somewhat less impressively, the Padres’ offense has hit the third fewest round trippers of any team this season with just 55.

While the Padres have had more success at Petco Park against the Diamondbacks than anywhere else, the Snakes own a 152-135 all time advantage since 1997.

The Padres’ nine game home stand continues Monday, as the Cincinnati Reds come to town for three. After an off-day Thursday, the division-leading Giants will be in for a three-game weekend series. All three of those games will feature afternoon first pitches.

Here’s today’s starting lineup for the Padres, courtesy of Friarwire.com

Today’s Padres’ lineup against the Diamondbacks. Mandatory Credit: friarwire.com