The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres clash Thursday in game 1 of an MLB series at Petco Park. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

Arizona Diamondbacks Betting Preview

The Diamondbacks look for another win after winning 4 of their last 5 games. The Diamondbacks are 1.5 games back in the NL wild card race. The Diamondbacks pitching staff is 25th in ERA (4.68), 20th in WHIP (1.35) and 11th in quality starts (46). The Diamondbacks’ offense is 11th in runs per game (4.71), 10th in batting average (.255) and 18th in homers (135). Ketel Marte leads the Diamondbacks with 122 hits and 62 RBI, while Christian Walker and Corbin Carroll have combined for 233 hits and 141 RBI. Zac Gallen gets the ball, and he is 12-5 with a 3.24 ERA and 165 strikeouts this season. Gallen is 3-3 with a 3.34 ERA and 65 strikeouts in his career against the Padres.

Arizona Diamondbacks Team Facts

• The Diamondbacks have lost each of their last seven games at Petco Park following a road win.
• The Diamondbacks have covered the run line 12 of their last 13 road games against teams that held a losing record.
• The Diamondbacks have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last five Thursday night games.
• The Diamondbacks have led after 3 innings in each of their last four games at Petco Park against NL West opponents that held a losing record.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Diamondbacks’ last three games as road underdogs.

Arizona Diamondbacks Player Prop Facts

• Christian Walker has hit at least one home run in each of the Diamondbacks’ last four road games.
• Christian Walker has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Diamondbacks’ last five night games against NL West opponents that held a losing record.
• Christian Walker has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Diamondbacks’ last seven night games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Corbin Carroll has scored a run in each of the Diamondbacks’ last six games against the Padres.
• Zac Gallen has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last 10 appearances in night games against NL West teams that held a losing record.
• Christian Walker has recorded at least one hit in each of the Diamondbacks’ last 10 games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Corbin Carroll ranks 3rd in the league in Steals (37) this season.

San Diego Padres Betting Preview

The Padres need a win after losing 8 of their last 12 games. The Padres are 4.5 games back in the NL wild card race. The Padres pitching staff is 5th in ERA (3.81), 12th in WHIP (1.27) and 6th in quality starts (55). The Padres’ offense is 15th in runs per game (4.60), 20th in batting average (.241) and 10th in homers (153). Xander Bogaerts leads the Padres with 119 hits and 41 RBI, while Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim have combined for 226 hits and 105 RBI. Rich Hill gets the ball, and he is 7-12 with a 5.17 ERA and 112 strikeouts this season. Hill is 1-9 with a 6.27 ERA and 73 strikeouts in his career against the Diamondbacks.

San Diego Padres Team Facts

• The Padres have lost each of their last six Thursday games as home favorites.
• The Padres have failed to cover the run line in each of their last nine Thursday home games.
• The Padres have trailed after 7 innings in four of their last five games as home favorites against National League opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last five games between the Diamondbacks and Padres.
• The Padres have lost the first inning in each of their last three night games against NL West opponents.

San Diego Padres Player Prop Facts

• Gary Sanchez has hit a home run in three of his four previous home appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• Juan Soto has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Padres’ last eight night games against NL teams that held a winning record.
• Jake Cronenworth has scored at least one run in nine of the Padres’ last 10 games as favorites against NL West opponents.
• Rich Hill has recorded five or more strikeouts in five of his last six home appearances against the Diamondbacks.
• Jake Cronenworth has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Padres’ last nine games as favorites against NL West opponents.
• Ha-Seong Kim has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 17 appearances with the Padres as favorites against NL opponents.
• Juan Soto ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.408) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The San Diego Padres ranks 2nd in the league for walks this season (489).
• The San Diego Padres are one of only 3 teams in the league to rank top 10 in both steals and home runs this season.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks ranks 2nd in the league for triples this season (29).
• The Arizona Diamondbacks ranks 3rd in the league for steals this season (124).
• Randy’s Pick

The Diamondbacks have put together a nice week, and now they throw an all star in Gallen on the mound. Gallen has been great this year with a 3.24 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Rich Hill is an innings’ eater, but he’s a 43-year-old pitcher with an ERA over 5, and he has a 5.33 ERA and .279 allowed batting average at home. The Padres are also an unserious team for the most part that’s hard to back in big games. You can argue the Diamondbacks should be bigger favorites given their form and the better pitcher. Give me the Diamondbacks and the reasonably cheap price.