Both rotations are held together with tape right now. San Diego is without Joe Musgrove, Nick Pivetta and Lucas Giolito, which is exactly why a struggling Buehler keeps getting the ball every fifth day regardless of how the last one went. Arizona's situation is arguably worse on paper — Zac Gallen, Corbin Burnes, Ryne Nelson and Blake Walston are all out, which is how a guy with a 7.83 ERA at Triple-A a month ago is now starting series games in August.
This set has already been a track meet. San Diego jumped Arizona 9-4 in the middle game before the Diamondbacks answered right back with a 10-4 blowout of their own, and neither bullpen has looked fresh doing it. With both rotations running on fumes, whichever relief corps has more left in the tank by the middle innings tonight probably decides this one.
The Padres are still hanging around the periphery of the wild-card picture at 59-56, and Arizona sits just a couple games better at 61-54 — this is two teams that can't afford to just punt a series finale. Neither offense has been shy about scoring lately, which tracks with a total that's been moving as high as it has this series.