The Arizona Diamondbacks will attempt to complete a home series sweep over their National League West rivals, the San Diego Padres, on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix. Merrill Kelly, who has been the Diamondbacks’ most reliable pitcher this season, will take the mound to lead Arizona’s effort to extend their winning streak to five games.
The Padres, aiming to stop the streak, will rely on Nick Pivetta, their most successful starter so far this season.
Pitching Matchup Highlights Final Game
Merrill Kelly, holding a 6-2 record and a 3.18 ERA, brings an impressive 15 1/3-inning scoreless streak into Sunday’s final game of the series. His counterpart, right-hander Nick Pivetta, also owns a 6-2 record with a 3.48 ERA but has struggled in recent outings after a strong start to the season.
Diamondbacks’ Late-Inning Rally Powers Recent Victories
Arizona’s recent success has been bolstered by their offense late in games; Saturday’s 8-7 win featured a five-run ninth inning rally. This marked the team’s second walk-off win during their six-game homestand, which concludes on Sunday. The Diamondbacks currently lead the major leagues with 39 runs scored in the ninth inning.
Right fielder Corbin Carroll praised the team’s resilience, saying,
“It’s been a tough season up to this point, but proud of the guys and the way that we’ve managed to rally,”
and added,
“To be able to get back over .500 is awesome, and now we just have to keep going.”
Standings Tightening as Diamondbacks Push Toward Padres
For the first time since May 21, Arizona stands two games above a .500 winning percentage. Their recent surge has moved them to within two and a half games of the third-place Padres, who are enduring a rough patch with three consecutive losses and four defeats in their last five contests. San Diego’s second baseman Jake Cronenworth acknowledged the need to rediscover past form, stating,
“It’s just finding what we were doing and remembering how we did it.”
Merrill Kelly’s Dominance Growing Amid Recent Performances
Kelly’s pitching has been dominant in his last two starts, where he threw 13 scoreless innings, though he recorded only one win due to a bullpen collapse that squandered a four-run lead late in Monday’s 8-4, 11-inning victory over Seattle. Kelly explained his approach on the mound:
“The more I’m on the edge (of the plate), the better the day is for me, That’s kind of how I make my living. That’s kind of how I survive. I don’t have the stuff to be over the middle. I definitely don’t have the fastball to be over the middle. I make my money living on the edge and making guys swing at pitches that they might not want to swing at.”
Since a difficult outing against the New York Yankees on April 3 where he allowed nine runs, Kelly has improved markedly, posting a 5-1 record with a 2.34 ERA over 12 appearances. His season ERA of 3.18 is the lowest since that early-season game.
He also addressed the team’s adjustment after losing ace Corbin Burnes to Tommy John surgery, saying,
“Obviously with (ace) Corbin (Burnes) going down, everybody has to step up. Even without Corbin being down (Tommy John surgery), we still need to. I’m just trying to capture that momentum and keep the train moving.”
Kelly’s Track Record Against Padres and Batter Challenges
Kelly is 9-4 with a 3.36 ERA in 16 career starts versus San Diego, the most wins he has recorded against any team. Although he lost his only start to the Padres last season, he has generally been successful facing them. However, Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. has found some success against Kelly, hitting eight for 25 with four home runs.
Nick Pivetta Struggles to Turn Recent Form Around
On the other side, Nick Pivetta has managed only one win in his past seven starts and surrendered five runs in each of his last two outings. Those performances resulted in no-decisions during losses to the Giants and Dodgers. Reflecting on his latest start in the Padres’ 8-7 loss to the Dodgers, Pivetta said,
“Could have gotten ahead a little bit better, earlier on, made some better pitches.”
He is 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA in three career appearances against the Diamondbacks.
Implications for Both Teams Moving Forward
Sunday’s matchup represents a crucial opportunity for the Diamondbacks to secure their fifth consecutive victory and pull even closer to the Padres in the division standings. For Merrill Kelly, the chance to pitch for the sweep further cements his role as the staff’s anchor during a pivotal stretch for Arizona. Conversely, the Padres look to Nick Pivetta to help reverse their recent slump and preserve their standing in a fiercely competitive division race.