The set-up: The Padres have lost the first two of this three-game series, leaving the two teams 9-9 in the season series. The D'backs and Padres now enter the final game of the regular season with identical 68-93 records and to today's winner goes the spoils. That being, the winner avoids last place in the National League West. Arizona attempts to avoid finishing in the basement for the third time in the last four years while San Diego has not finished in the cellar since 2011, the last time the D'backs won the division.

The pitching matchup: Paul Clemens (4-5, 4.27 ERA) takes the mound for San Diego and Matt Koch (1-1, 2.25 ERA) for Arizona. Clemens is 2-0 with a 0.57 ERA over his last three starts (Padres are 3-0), allowing exactly three hits each time. He has made three appearances (two starts) against the D'backs in 2016 but despite posting a 2.31 ERA, has yet to earn a win. However, the Padres have won both of his starting assignments against Arizona. Koch made his first career start at Washington this past Tuesday and did not allow a hit over his first five innings. He was pulled after giving up his only hit and walk to open the sixth inning. Unfortunately, both runners would score, as he was charged with two runs in the outing. He has been equally stingy in five relief appearances since arriving to the majors, giving up only one run and three hits over seven innings.

The pick: The Padres take a three-game slide into this final game of the season, while the D'backs have won three of their last four. Arizona owns the momentum and in rookie Koch, the D'backs have a pitcher who has yet to surrender a run in six innings at home , while holding opposing batters to a .100 average. Arizona is an 8* play.