{"id":768763,"date":"2026-08-03T09:42:18","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T09:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/768763\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T09:42:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T09:42:18","slug":"wild-card-contenders-diamondbacks-padres-clash-in-desert-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/768763\/","title":{"rendered":"Wild-card contenders Diamondbacks, Padres clash in desert – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Arizona Diamondbacks were in danger of falling into a deeper hole when they faced the San Diego Padres before the All-Star break. How things have changed.<\/p>\n

After salvaging a split in the finale of a four-game set in San Diego on July 9, the Diamondbacks have the best record in the National League since that date and are tied with Philadelphia for the final two NL wild-card spots as they open a four-game series against the Padres on Monday.<\/p>\n

Arizona is 14-6 since July 9 and leads the major leagues with 118 runs. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my favorite month of baseball,\u201d said Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, whose team completed a 6-4 road trip as the calendar turned to August. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think the season starts to take shape. The contenders and pretenders start to separate. So I think the real teams, and the ones that are capable of carrying on for the next two months, start to separate themselves, and it\u2019s the purest form of baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Padres have been nearly as good in that span, going 12-8 with 110 runs, the third-most in the majors. They are one game behind the Diamondbacks and Phillies after a 5-1 homestand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow we\u2019re playing right now, I think, is the true identity of this club,\u201d said Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth, whose walk-off single beat the Giants 6-5 on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt (5-1, 4.00 ERA) will seek to continue his recent dominance in the opener against fellow right-hander Michael King (6-7, 3.38), who was pushed back from a scheduled Sunday start against San Francisco for this matchup.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re chasing them,\u201d San Diego manager Craig Stammen said. \u201cHe\u2019s our best pitcher. It would be nice to have our best pitcher pitching against them. He would miss them otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

King is 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA in five career starts against Arizona.<\/p>\n

Pfaadt is 5-0 with a 1.85 ERA since his June 30 return from Triple-A Reno, where he was dispatched after early-season ineffectiveness. Injuries to right-handers Ryne Nelson and Michael Soroka provided a rotation opening.<\/p>\n

After tweaking his mechanics, Pfaadt has taken advantage. He shortened his windup and moved to the first-base side of the rubber. He had been going back and forth with his starting point.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore simple and more consistent,\u201d Pfaadt said. \u201cI think when you move and change so many things over a long period of time, stuff becomes inconsistent. Just making that as consistent as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pfaadt threw five scoreless innings in an 8-0 victory over the Padres in his second start back July 6, He gave up six hits in seven scoreless innings in his last appearance, an 8-7 no-decision at Pittsburgh last Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s just confidence with everything that he\u2019s doing,\u201d Lovullo said. \u201cHis timing\u2019s great. His delivery looks great, and he\u2019s executing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pfaadt is 4-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 11 career appearances (10 starts) against San Diego. Cronenworth is 11-for-24 with three RBIs against Pfaadt, Manny Machado is 7-for-21 with a homer and Ty France is 3-for-9 with a homer.<\/p>\n

King was 1-0 with 2.79 ERA in five July starts. He gave up a combined three runs in 12 innings in a win and a no-decision against Arizona this season. Against King, Gabriel Moreno is 4-for-8 and Corbin Carroll is 1-for-9.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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