With a favorable break in the schedule it’s a chance for the D-Backs to gain ground or at very least stay close to the World Champions (who start a series with the Phillies tonight).

In a battle of former Angel teammates Joe Saunders (6-8, 3.82) will toe the rubber for the Diamondbacks while Dustin Moseley (3-9, 3.19) goes for the Padres. Moseley opened in the MLB odds as a -125 favorite on the moneyline with the total opening at 7 but moving down to 6.5 now.

Game time is slated for 10:05 PM ET with superb weather expected. Temps will be in the 60’s under partly cloudy skies for this matchup.

Friars nab finale in Philly

The Padres 45-58) ended a pair of long losing streaks in Philadelphia beating the Phillies 5-4 as +210 underdogs. San Diego had lost seven straight this year to the Phils and 10 in a row dating back to last season. Winning pitcher Aaron Harang (9-2) gave up four runs in six innings to help the Padres avoid a four-game sweep while Chris Denorfia went 2 for 5 and stole home against losing pitcher Cliff Lee. San Diego remains in last place in the NL West 14.5 games behind San Francisco.

Arizona (55-47) wrapped up its latest home stand with a pair of impressive wins over Colorado. After destroying the Rockies 12-3 on Saturday, the Snakes came back with a 7-0 victory on Sunday. Justin Upton was a one man wrecking crew going abined 7 for 9 in the two games with a home run and nine runs batted in. He’s now on a 14 for 23 tear with two homers and 11 RBI’s and has raised his season average to .301.

The Diamondbacks have played through a rash of injuries that has claimed four players in five days. Shortstop Stephen Drew was lost for the season after breaking his ankle Wednesday. Then it was second baseman Kelly Johnson suffering a leg injury, Gerardo Parra hurting his wrist and Geoff Blum breaking a finger.

Maybin, Maybe not

The Padres aren’t without an injury loss or two of their own. Their hottest hitter Cameron Maybin, left Sunday’s game against the Phillies after suffering a hip flexor strain and is listed as day-to-day. Since the All-Star break, Maybin is hitting .422.

Can’t get any worse

The Padres are last in the league in scoring (354), runs per game (3.49) batting average (.223) and home runs (53). If not for their pitching staff they would have already waved the white flag of surrender on the 2011 season. San Diego is third in the majors in ERA (3.24) and the bullpen is first with an ERA of 2.82.

The Diamondbacks offensive outburst against the Rockies has helped moved them up in all of the major offensive categories. Arizona is fourth in home runs (114) and seventh in both runs (462) scored and runs per game (4.53).

Colonel Saunders

Fading Joe Saunders has been a profitable play especially when the lefty works away from Chase Field. Arizona is 4-12 in his last 16 road starts and 9-11 in his 20 starts this season. However his ERA is about 1.5 runs lower on the road.

Dustin Moseley has been victimized by the light-hitting Padres who are averaging just 2.6 runs per game behind him. Not surprisingly San Diego is 5-14 in his 19 starts and Moseley is ranked 226^th in the majors having lost -804 units. Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies is last on the list (#232) with -1181 units.

San Diego leads the season series 3-2 and is 2-1 at home against Arizona.

Harvey’s Take: I’m siding with the Diamondbacks on the run line tonight. Arizona is 33-17 in that category this season while San Diego is 17-33. The Diamondbacks have a hot pitcher on the hill in Saunders who has allowed just five runs in his last 18 innings and is much better on the road (3.06 ERA) than at home (4.62).

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