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SAN FRANCISCO — Slumping first baseman Ildemaro Vargas is out of the Diamondbacks’ lineup for their series opener against the San Francisco Giants on Monday afternoon, May 25, and rookie Jose Fernandez is getting the start against Giants right-hander Landen Roupp.
Vargas has done little at the plate in recent days, going 0 for 17 with two walks and a hit by pitch over his past five games. He has been in a funk since his 27-game hit streak ended in Chicago earlier in the month, hitting just .200/.236/.259 in 21 games since.
Manager Torey Lovullo did not want to commit to giving Fernandez more starts going forward, focusing for now on getting the 34-year-old Vargas a day of rest.
“I just thought to get him off his feet and give him a little bit of a mental blow and physical blow,” Lovullo said. “What does it look like moving forward? I don’t know what it’s going to look like. I know it’s been a little bit of a grind for him over the past 35, 45 at-bats, but I believe he’s going to be just fine to come out of that.”
General manager Mike Hazen acknowledged Vargas’ offensive struggles but said his defensive prowess at first base has been important.
“That’s extremely valuable for us,” Hazen said.
If Vargas’ struggles at the plate continue, the club could still stick with him as the regular first baseman, Hazen said.
“It’s something we look at when the offense isn’t clicking,” Hazen said. “But when the offense is clicking, we should be fine. We’re starting to swing the bats a little bit better.
"If we continue to do that, I’ll take the defense there, absolutely. But if we need an offensive lift, that’s going to be an area we have to look at.”
Lovullo has Ryan Waldschmidt in the No. 6 spot in the lineup for the second consecutive day, and Lovullo said that his rookie center fielder might remain somewhere in that area of the batting order.
He said Waldschmidt, who had been hitting in the No. 9 spot, was hitting higher on Sunday, May 24, in large part because of “who was and was not” in the lineup that day.
“But I liked the way it looked and I’ll probably stay with that for a while — somewhere north of nine,” Lovullo said. “Where it is, I don’t know.”
Waldschmidt had two hits in four at-bats on May 24 and is hitting .353/.411/.473 through 57 plate appearances since getting called up on May 8.
First baseman Pavin Smith is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Monday night, May 25, in the Arizona Complex League, Hazen said. Smith has been out since the first week of the season and is recovering from surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow.
Smith likely will serve as the designated hitter — and Hazen said likely will return from the injured list at a time when he still is limited to DH duties.
“I’d be more inclined to get his bat back in the lineup sooner,” Hazen said. “We don’t have an everyday DH so there’s no problem there, and we have plenty of first base coverage. I don’t think the throwing is going to be tremendously behind.”
Outfielder Jordan Lawlar is a little behind Smith but not by much, Lovullo said.
Before the Giants game, reliever Jonathan Loaisiga played catch in the outfield while surrounded by coaches and the medical staff. Lovullo revealed later that Loaisiga has been battling “shoulder fatigue.”
“No concerns,” Lovullo said. “We kind of backed off his usage to let him get some rest. He’s in a good spot right now.”
Left-hander A.J. Puk, who made his first minor league rehab appearance on May 23 in the complex league, likely will make “seven or eight” appearances before coming back from the injured list, Hazen said. That could push his return into the middle of June.
Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (4-3, 5.71) vs. Giants RHP Landen Roupp (5-4, 3.27).
At Oracle Park, San Francisco: Kelly is part of a Diamondbacks rotation that, entering games of May 23, had recorded 13 quality starts (six innings with three earned runs or fewer allowed) since May 5. Kelly himself has won his past three starts, with six innings against the Giants on May 20 and a complete game at Colorado on May 15. He has faced the Giants more than any other team in his career, with 22 starts, and is 9-5 with a 3.30 earned run average against them. ... Roupp has not won a game since April 26 against Miami, but he's been a key part of the Giants rotation since last season. He allowed a run on seven hits in six innings in his last start at Chase Field against the Diamondbacks.
Tuesday, May 26: At San Francisco, 6:45 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-1, 2.24) vs. Giants TBA.
Wednesday, May 27: At San Francisco, 12:45 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.27) vs. Giants RHP Logan Webb (2-4, 5.06).
Thursday, May 28: Off.
Friday, May 29: At Seattle, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (3-4, 4.80) vs. Mariners RHP George Kirby (5-4, 3.54).
(This story will be updated. Check back soon.)
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks-Giants updates. Lovullo rests struggling hitter
Continue reading...
Vargas has done little at the plate in recent days, going 0 for 17 with two walks and a hit by pitch over his past five games. He has been in a funk since his 27-game hit streak ended in Chicago earlier in the month, hitting just .200/.236/.259 in 21 games since.
Manager Torey Lovullo did not want to commit to giving Fernandez more starts going forward, focusing for now on getting the 34-year-old Vargas a day of rest.
“I just thought to get him off his feet and give him a little bit of a mental blow and physical blow,” Lovullo said. “What does it look like moving forward? I don’t know what it’s going to look like. I know it’s been a little bit of a grind for him over the past 35, 45 at-bats, but I believe he’s going to be just fine to come out of that.”
General manager Mike Hazen acknowledged Vargas’ offensive struggles but said his defensive prowess at first base has been important.
“That’s extremely valuable for us,” Hazen said.
If Vargas’ struggles at the plate continue, the club could still stick with him as the regular first baseman, Hazen said.
“It’s something we look at when the offense isn’t clicking,” Hazen said. “But when the offense is clicking, we should be fine. We’re starting to swing the bats a little bit better.
"If we continue to do that, I’ll take the defense there, absolutely. But if we need an offensive lift, that’s going to be an area we have to look at.”
Waldschmidt migrating north in lineup
Lovullo has Ryan Waldschmidt in the No. 6 spot in the lineup for the second consecutive day, and Lovullo said that his rookie center fielder might remain somewhere in that area of the batting order.
He said Waldschmidt, who had been hitting in the No. 9 spot, was hitting higher on Sunday, May 24, in large part because of “who was and was not” in the lineup that day.
“But I liked the way it looked and I’ll probably stay with that for a while — somewhere north of nine,” Lovullo said. “Where it is, I don’t know.”
Waldschmidt had two hits in four at-bats on May 24 and is hitting .353/.411/.473 through 57 plate appearances since getting called up on May 8.
Injury updates on Pavin Smith, Jonathan Loaisiga
First baseman Pavin Smith is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Monday night, May 25, in the Arizona Complex League, Hazen said. Smith has been out since the first week of the season and is recovering from surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow.
Smith likely will serve as the designated hitter — and Hazen said likely will return from the injured list at a time when he still is limited to DH duties.
“I’d be more inclined to get his bat back in the lineup sooner,” Hazen said. “We don’t have an everyday DH so there’s no problem there, and we have plenty of first base coverage. I don’t think the throwing is going to be tremendously behind.”
Outfielder Jordan Lawlar is a little behind Smith but not by much, Lovullo said.
Before the Giants game, reliever Jonathan Loaisiga played catch in the outfield while surrounded by coaches and the medical staff. Lovullo revealed later that Loaisiga has been battling “shoulder fatigue.”
“No concerns,” Lovullo said. “We kind of backed off his usage to let him get some rest. He’s in a good spot right now.”
Left-hander A.J. Puk, who made his first minor league rehab appearance on May 23 in the complex league, likely will make “seven or eight” appearances before coming back from the injured list, Hazen said. That could push his return into the middle of June.
Diamondbacks at Giants, 2:05 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (4-3, 5.71) vs. Giants RHP Landen Roupp (5-4, 3.27).
At Oracle Park, San Francisco: Kelly is part of a Diamondbacks rotation that, entering games of May 23, had recorded 13 quality starts (six innings with three earned runs or fewer allowed) since May 5. Kelly himself has won his past three starts, with six innings against the Giants on May 20 and a complete game at Colorado on May 15. He has faced the Giants more than any other team in his career, with 22 starts, and is 9-5 with a 3.30 earned run average against them. ... Roupp has not won a game since April 26 against Miami, but he's been a key part of the Giants rotation since last season. He allowed a run on seven hits in six innings in his last start at Chase Field against the Diamondbacks.
Coming up
Tuesday, May 26: At San Francisco, 6:45 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-1, 2.24) vs. Giants TBA.
Wednesday, May 27: At San Francisco, 12:45 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.27) vs. Giants RHP Logan Webb (2-4, 5.06).
Thursday, May 28: Off.
Friday, May 29: At Seattle, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (3-4, 4.80) vs. Mariners RHP George Kirby (5-4, 3.54).
(This story will be updated. Check back soon.)
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks-Giants updates. Lovullo rests struggling hitter
Continue reading...
