The Diamondbacks turn to Miguel Batista in Saturday's game against the visiting first-place Dodgers, the second game of a three-game set.

Manager Doug Melvin stressed the importance of the team's current six-game homestand, which includes a visit by the surging Padres. The homestand is even more crucial as the D-Backs are coming off a 3-7 road trip, which concluded with a sweep by the Giants.

"It's a pretty important six games here," he said. "If we come off the road trip playing better, have a better record coming off the road trip, it doesn't look as magnified. But these six games are big games. Now, the six after that are even more important, but coming in here, after the way we played on the road trip, makes it a little bit more significant that we do well at home here in these six games moving forward."

Batista has pitched well of late, boasting a 4-0 record and 3.89 ERA over his last 10 starts, dating back to June 25. But his efforts have not garnered much run support as he is coming off three straight no-decisions, despite combining to give up only four earned runs over that span. The right-hander is going for his third victory of the season against Los Angeles.

Batista will be opposed by Derek Lowe, who leads the Dodgers in innings pitched (173 1/3), games started (27) and quality starts (17). Lowe's 11 victories ranks second on the team behind Brad Penny, who has 13 wins. Lowe has struggled over the course of his career against Arizona, as he holds a 1-4 mark with a 6.55 ERA.

Pitching matchup
ARI: RHP Miguel Batista, 10-5, 4.52 ERA)
In his last start on Sunday, Batista received a no-decision -- his 10th of the season. The veteran right-hander gave up a single run over seven innings of work against the Padres.

LA: RHP Derek Lowe (11-8, 3.84 ERA)
Lowe has won four of his last five starts and credits abandoning the cutter for helping him regain the feel of his sinker. Against the Giants on Sunday, he gave up two runs -- one earned -- over eight innings.

Player to watch
Center fielder Eric Byrnes is .667 (8-for-12) lifetime against Lowe with an RBI.

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• 3TV

On radio
• KTAR 620 AM, KSUN 1400 AM (Español)

Up next
• Sunday: Dodgers (RHP Chad Billingsley, 4-3, 3.19) at D-Backs (RHP Livan Hernandez, 10-10, 5.19), 1:40 p.m. MST
• Monday: Padres (RHP Woody Williams, 7-4, 3.60) at D-Backs (RHP Brandon Webb, 13-5, 2.99), 6:40 p.m. MST
• Tuesday: Padres (RHP Mike Thompson, 3-5, 5.07) at D-Backs (RHP Enrique Gonzalez, 3-5, 5.32), 6:40 p.m. MST