Joe Saunders received a quick hook in Wednesday's Game 4 contest against the Brewers, yielding three runs over three innings. Saunders gave up five hits and two walks in the brief start. He was pulled with a 7-3 lead, as D'Backs manager Kirk Gibson presumably believed the bullpen had a better chance of holding the lead. After throwing only 54 pitches, Saunders should be fresh for his next start -- if Arizona advances with a win on Friday.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson admitted that Joe Saunders's hand injury went into the decision to start him in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Brewers instead of Game 3. The ailment isn't considered serious, but Gibson decided to go ahead and give Saunders an extra day. It also didn't hurt that Josh Collmenter, who will get the ball in Game 3, is unscored upon in two starts against the Brewers this season. Assuming he doesn't have a setback, Saunders is fully expected to be ready for Game 4.

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Joe Saunders, who has been dealing with a hand injury this season, said it will not impact his next start in the NL Division Series. "It was a little tough for me to make some pitches (Wednesday)," Saunders said. "I'm going to take it easy on the BP for a while. I'll be fine. It's just a bruise that everybody goes through." Saunders had an ugly finish to 2011, giving up five earned runs on nine base hits to the Dodgers in the regular-season finale. The Diamondbacks are counting on him as their game three starter where he'll remain in their rotation this postseason. Saunders struck out 108 batters over 211 2/3 innings in 33 appearances.

Joe Saunders allowed five runs on nine hits in six innings Wednesday, falling to 12-13 in Arizona's regular season ending loss to the Dodgers. He struck out two, walked none and allowed a solo home run to James Loney in the sixth. An off night, but not one that dampens Saunders' best season since 2008. In a career high 212 innings, he posted a 3.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 108/67 K/BB ratio. Not bad for a player who was essentially a throw in to the Dan Haren trade. He'll take the hill for the Diamondbacks in game three of the NLDS.

Joe Saunders yielded one run in seven innings Friday in a no-decision against the Giants. Saunders allowed nine hits, but just one of them -- a fifth-inning homer from Orlando Cabrera -- did any damage. Unfortunately for Saunders, the Diamondbacks didn't manage to pull ahead until the bottom of the eighth, leaving him without a decision. Saunders will probably pitch a couple of innings next week in the Diamondbacks' season finale in order to get ready for the NLDS.

Joe Saunders was terrific Sunday, allowing only an unearned run on seven hits and two walks over 8 2/3 innings in a 5-1 win over the Padres. Just one out away from his second complete game of the season, Saunders let a pair of runners on in the ninth inning before yielding to closer J.J. Putz, who recorded the final out. Saunders has feasted on the Padres this season, having held them to just five earned runs over four starts, with four of those runs coming in his first outing against them. The lefty has his ERA down to 3.66 and WHIP to 1.30. He'll get the Giants next.

Joe Saunders held the Dodgers to two runs on four hits in seven innings on Monday, improving to 11-12 in Arizona's 7-2 road victory. He struck out four and walked one. His only real mistake came in the first, where he allowed a solo home run to Matt Kemp. Now the owner of a 3.83 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 102/65 K/BB ratio, Saunders is having easily his best season since 2008. He'll get the Padres in San Diego on Sunday.

Joe Saunders allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings on Wednesday, improving to 10-12 in Arizona's 5-3 win in Colorado. He struck out four, walked one and allowed three solo home runs. He'll take a 3.88 ERA and 1.34 WHIP into his Monday start in Los Angeles.

Joe Saunders yielded just one unearned run over seven innings in Saturday's 3-1 defeat of the Padres. Saunders finally earned his first quality start of August, surrendering just four hits and issuing just one walk as the Diamondbacks maintained their healthy lead in the National League West standings. The left-hander will carry a 9-11 record, 3.82 ERA and 1.33 WHIP into his next scheduled start against the second-place Giants.

Joe Saunders allowed four runs on six hits in six innings of work on Monday evening, taking the loss in Arizona's 4-1 setback to the Nationals. He struck out two and walked three. Saunders has failed to turn in a quality start in four August outings and seen his ERA balloon from 3.56 on July 31 to 3.98. He has a chance to right the ship this weekend against the Padres.