The set-up: The 55-76 Arizona Diamondbacks will visit AT&T Park for a quick two-game series with the 71-59 San Francisco Giants. The D'backs are going nowhere, while the Giants will play those D'backs in August's final two days, 1 1/2 games back of the LA Dodgers for the NL West lead. However, the Giants are still in excellent shape to return to the postseason, owning the top wild card spot, two games up on the Cards plus remain 3 1/2 games inside the playoff 'cut line.'

The pitching matchup: Zack Greinke (11-4, 4.29 ERA) gets the nod for Arizona and Johnny Cueto (14-4, 2.86 ERA) for San Francisco. Greinke went out with an injury in late June and didn't get back on the mound until August 8. In his four starts since coming off the DL, he's 1-1 (team is 2-2) with a 7.84 ERA. However, Greinke is 8-1 lifetime against San Francisco with a 2.41 ERA in 12 starts (teams are 10-2). Cueto's been San Francisco's best pitcher this season and like Greinke, has dominated the team he opposes tonight. Cueto is 8-2 with a 2.93 ERA in 11 career starts against Arizona (teams are 9-2).

The pick: However, here's the catch. The Giants came out of the All Star break with MLB's best record (57-33) but have gone 14-26, since! As for Cueto, he's 1-3 in eight starts since the All Star break (Giants are 3-5), posting a 3.91 ERA (he was 13-1 with a 2.47 ERA at the break). Taking the 1 1/2 runs with Arizona is an 8* play.