David Peralta returns to the lineup as D-backs face the Padres

Coming off of a three-game sweep of the Mets at home, the Diamondbacks (24-18) begin a short road trip to San Diego (15-28) and get outfielder David Peralta back in the lineup.

Peralta exited a game against the Pirates on May 14 after injuring his glute, but has pinch-hit in every game since then and will start on Friday. He’ll hit second, sandwiched between Gregor Blanco in the leadoff spot and Paul Goldschmidt batting third.

Peralta’s return is a timely one, as the D-backs get his left-handed bat back to face two righties in San Diego: Jered Weaver and Luis Perdomo. Peralta is hitting .294 this year with a .343 on-base percentage and slugging .452 — but against right-handed pitching, those numbers are .320, .366 and .485.

Padres Starting Pitching

Weaver carries a 6.05 ERA in eight starts and 41.2 innings this season. His 14 home runs allowed lead the National League and are second-most in baseball entering play on Friday. The D-backs got a look at Weaver once already this year, plating five runs off the 34-year-old veteran.

Perdomo — who will pitch Saturday — spent a brief period of time on the disabled list this season in April. Nonetheless, he’s pitched six starts with a 4.19 ERA, allowing just two home runs in 34.1 innings of work. Saturday will be his first start against the D-backs this year.

On Sunday, Arizona will get a look at southpaw Clayton Richard. His 4.86 ERA could come down a bit against the D-backs, who are batting .263 as a team overall but just .242 against lefties.

D-backs Starting Pitching

Taijuan Walker gets the ball Friday with a 3.91 ERA on the year and one win under his belt already this season against the Friars. He has just one career start at Petco Park back in 2015, and it went well: Walker tossed six innings of one-hit ball with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Left-handed fireballer Robbie Ray has struggled with the free pass this year, issuing 5.2 walks per nine (26 walks in 45.1 IP) in 2017. That’s nearly two more walks per nine than his career average of 3.6 coming into this season. He also holds a 4.57 ERA and 1.434 WHIP in eight starts this season, and will get his ninth on Saturday.

Zack Godley will pitch on Sunday as the Diamondbacks continue to evaluate his viability as a replacement for the injured Shelby Miller. He’s done well so far, holding an impressive 1.93 ERA in three starts with the big league club in 2017. In 18.2 innings of work, he’s allowed just four runs on nine hits with 19 strikeouts. He has, however, walked nine batters.

Up Next:

Don’t look now, but five of the next eight series the D-backs will play after their return from San Diego are against teams that are one of the bottom two in the respective divisions as of Friday.

Arizona will play the Chicago White Sox (17-22), Milwaukee (24-18), Pittsburgh (18-23), Miami (14-26), San Diego, Milwaukee, Detroit (20-19) and Philadelphia (14-24).

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