MLB Free Pick: Padres vs Diamondbacks
July 7, 2018
The Arizona Diamondbacks are glad to have Steven Souza Jr. back in their lineup. The offseason signing has only played 16 games with the team due to suffering a pectoral strain, but is now back to figuring prominently in the teams division title push. On Saturday, Souza and teammates will host the San Diego Padres.
Odds makers have the current line with Arizona favored at -180, San Diego +160 and the over/under run total at 8.
In just his second game back from the disabled list Souza knocked in two runs on Friday helping lead the Diamondbacks to a 3-1 win. Paul Goldschmidt and Nick Ahmed each had two hits. Arizona has not played well on its current homestand of 10 games losing 6 of 8.
This season Arizona is just 25-22 at home and 12-9 against National League West teams.
San Diego is going through a difficult period losing 14 of its last 18 games and on Friday could only muster five hits. The team was very high on Manuel Margot after he had a promising rookie season in 2017, but he is batting just .232 with three home runs halfway through his second season. The 23-year old struck out and went 0-for-4 in Friday’s loss.
San Diego has activated right-hander Phil Hughes from its 10-day DL and fellow right-hander Kirby Yates from its paternity list and both could see action this weekend.
Tyson Ross will start on the mound for San Diego. The right-hander is 5-6 with a 3.78 ERA. Ross suffered this season’s worst start in his last outing giving up seven runs in five innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 7-5 defeat last Sunday. Over his past six starts Ross has served up eight home runs, after allowing just five during the first 11 starts.
Robbie Ray will start on the mound for the Diamondbacks. The left-hander is 3-1 with a 4.89 ERA. Following six shutout innings in his first outing after coming off the disabled list, Ray gave up six runs in five innings on Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals and lost 6-3. In his nine starts during his career against the Padres, Ray is 4-4 with a 3.92 ERA.
Prediction: Arizona has not played well at home this season, but the Padres are 19-27 on the road and have lost 7 of their last 10 overall. The D-Backs run differential is a plus-48 while the Padres is minus-71. Take the Diamondbacks at home 6-2
