Nationals @ Diamondbacks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Washington Nationals (57-51)

@ Arizona Diamondbacks (54-55)

Starting Pitchers:

Ross (WSH): 0-3; 9.85 ERA

Ray (ARI) 9-7; 3.91 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Washington Nationals: 5-5

Arizona Diamondbacks: 4-6

Current odds:

Washington Nationals: (+120)

Arizona Diamondbacks: (-130)

• The Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks were two of the most active teams in front of the trade deadline Wednesday afternoon, with each going in a different direction. The Diamondbacks will begin life without ace Zack Greinke when they host the Nationals in the opener of a three-game series Friday. Arizona, which dropped a game below .500 at 54-55 with a loss at the New York Yankees on Wednesday, looked like buyers when they acquired right-hander Zac Gallen from the Miami Marlins earlier Wednesday but went in a different direction a few hours later, picking up four prospects from the Houston Astros in exchange for All-Star righty Greinke. The Diamondbacks are still within shouting distance of the second National League wild card and kept left-hander Robbie Ray while reportedly also adding veteran right-hander Mike Leake.

• The Nationals made sure there was no mistaking their intention to contend this season by overhauling the teams’ weakest part – the bullpen – by adding veterans Daniel Hudson, Hunter Strickland and Roenis Elias in deals with the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. Ray will get the call for Arizona on Friday while Nationals right-hander Joe Ross opposes.

• Ross made 18 of his first 19 appearances out of the bullpen and followed an opener as the long reliever in two July outings but will get the ball from the start Friday. The 26-year-old was ripped for seven runs (six earned) and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers to suffer a loss Saturday. Ross is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two career starts against Arizona, notching 12 strikeouts in 10 innings.

• Ray had a string of wins in four straight starts come to an end when he was reached for three runs (two earned) and seven hits in six innings at Miami on Sunday. The 27-year-old matched a season high with 11 strikeouts in the loss and is third in the NL with 173 punchouts on the season. Ray yielded a season-high five earned runs at Washington on June 14, when he served up a pair of home runs among five hits over six innings to absorb a loss.

• Diamondbacks OF David Peralta went 3-for-4 on Wednesday after going 2-for-17 over his first six games since coming off the IL.

• Washington LF Juan Soto homered in three of the last four games and drove in at least one run in six straight.

• Arizona RHP Yoshihisa Hirano allowed three runs in one-third of an inning Wednesday after yielding a total of one earned run over his previous 15 appearances.