First pitch: Wednesday, 10:05 p.m. ET
Line: San Diego -135, Arizona +125, Total: 6.5

Two NL West clubs, the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres, meet up at Petco Park for the third contest in a four-game set.

The Diamondbacks have really been struggling in 2014 and are losers in six of their last eight games while being defeated in the first two contests of this series. They have scored only two runs in this series so far and their five singles on Tuesday did not get them very far as they were 1-for-5 with RISP. OF David Peralta (.292) has a hit in nine of his last 10 games played while going 12-for-36 (.333) with four runs in that time. The Padres have a long shot at the playoffs as they sit 6.5 games behind Milwaukee for the second wild card spot and are 7-2 over their last nine contests. Their pitching has been amazing, allowing a miniscule 1.7 runs per game in the seven wins. On Tuesday, 3B Cory Spangenberg (.400) hit his first career home run as he walked off in the bottom of the ninth. The club does not produce too much offense, though, but are excited to have C Yasmani Grandal (.212) who has gone 9-for-30 (.300) with three RBI and three runs in his last seven games played. Getting the start for Arizona in this one will be RHP Josh Collmenter (9-7, 3.94 ERA) as he takes on RHP Andrew Cashner (2-6, 2.37 ERA) of the host Padres. The Diamondbacks have really struggled away from home with a record of 28-38 (.424) while San Diego has taken advantage of Petco Park and are 40-29 (.580) there. As divisional foes, these teams have gone against each other plenty with the Padres holding a 29-22 (.569) edge overall but are just 6-8 in 2014. Over the past three seasons, Arizona is 18-10 (.643) on the road when the total is six to 6.5 and the Padres have gone 27-12 (.692) at home with the same totals this year. As far as injuries go, the D-backs will continue to be without stud 1B Paul Goldschmidt (Hand) for the rest of the season as San Diego has 1B Yonder Alonso (Forearm), SS Everth Cabrera (Hamstring) and OF Carlos Quentin (Knee) all on the DL.

Josh Collmenter has been a solid contributor to the Diamondback’s rotation for a few years now and has an ERA under 4.00 in each of those seasons. In 2014, the righty looks like he is going to get a career-high mark in IP as he has harnessed his control (2.1 BB/9) but lost more than two strikeouts per innings (6.3 K/9) from last season. His last two starts have gone very well as he has combined to go 14.2 frames and allow two runs (1 ER) on six hits with a 13:0 K/BB ratio. One of those outings actually came against the Padres and it brought his career numbers against them to 3-2 with a 3.00 ERA (1.17 WHIP) while this year he has won both of his starts when facing them. In those games he has given up a meager two runs (1 ER) on nine hits over 13.2 IP and has struck out 12 batters (2 walks). OF Seth Smith (5-for-17, 1 double, 1 triple, 1 HR, 1 RBI) has had the most experience and success against the Diamondbacks starter. Meanwhile, starters 2B Jedd Gyorko (0-for-8), OF Will Venable (1-for-8, 2 Ks) and C Yasmani Grandal (0-for-3) have done poorly in their limited at-bats. The bullpen for Arizona has gone 21-24 (.467) with a 3.76 ERA (1.32 WHIP) and has successfully converted 34-of-53 (64%) saves. Addison Reed (3.61 ERA, 31 saves) has five blown saves in 2014 and has allowed 10 homers in 52.1 innings of work while striking out 10.7 batters per nine innings.

Andrew Cashner has struggled this year with injuries, but when he is in the game, he is exceptional. As a reliever in the past, he struck out well more than a batter per inning while struggling mightily with his control. But now, he has found his control (2.5 BB/9) and is still striking out a respectable 7.0 batters per nine. With his home ballpark helping, Cashner has allowed just three HRs in 87.1 frames (0.31 HR/9) this year. He was activated from the DL recently and in his first game back on August 29th, the righty went six strong innings in which he gave up a single run on six hits while striking out eight (0 walks). Cashner has now faced the Diamondbacks seven times as a starter, going 2-1 (5-2 team record) with a 3.57 ERA (1.19 WHIP) as his team has lost in both of his outings this year. C Miguel Montero has gone 4-for-16 (.250) with a solo home run, four walks and five strikeouts against Cashner as no other batter on the Diamondbacks has recorded double-digit at-bats in the matchup. The Padres bullpen has combined to go 21-11 (.656) with a 2.52 ERA (1.10 WHIP) and are 35-for-42 (83%) in save chances. Joaquin Benoit (1.58 ERA, 9 saves) has done great since the departure of Huston Street and is 9-for-10 in his save opportunities while striking out a solid amount of batters (10.5 K/9).