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Slumping first baseman Pavin Smith continues to draw starts at first base against right-handed pitching, but manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged he might look elsewhere if Smith’s results don’t improve.
“Possibly,” Lovullo said. “We have to be mindful of that. We have a couple of other first basemen with (LuJames) Groover and (Ildemaro) Vargas and I’ve got to watch things very closely. I’ll certainly put Pavin in my crosshairs if I need to.”
Smith came off the injured list at the start of June but has struggled badly at the plate, going just 8 for 56 (.143) with one home run in 21 games. The results haven’t been getting any better; he was 1 for 23 over his past seven games entering the Diamondbacks game against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, July 1.
Trouble is, neither Groover nor Vargas has seized opportunities in recent weeks. Groover saw regular at-bats for his first couple of weeks in the majors but did not produce and began to lose starts. He is 8 for 46 (.174) with one homer since getting called up in early June.
Vargas, meanwhile, had a monster April and swung the bat relatively well through the middle of May but has fallen hard since. He is just 9 for 88 (.102) over his past 34 games.
Lovullo offered a pair of minor injury updates. He said catcher James McCann was headed to Tacoma to join Triple-A Reno on a rehab assignment. Lovullo intimated that the stint with Reno would last through the weekend.
Lovullo also clarified the timetable for right-hander Michael Soroka, whom he said a day earlier could be back before the July 13-16 All-Star break. Lovullo seemed to suggest a return after the break was far more likely.
“We’re not going to rush this,” Lovullo said. “It might be some time right after the break. Still in that time zone. I was very hopeful with what I was saying about before the break; it’s a possibility. But I don’t want you guys to be misled by what I said yesterday.”
Soroka is on the injured list with a left glute strain.
High-A shortstop Kayson Cunningham will be the Diamondbacks’ lone representative in the Futures Game on July 12 in Philadelphia.
Cunningham, the club’s top pick in last year’s draft, hit a blistering .381 with a .506 slugging in 43 games with Low-A Visalia before being promoted.
He has slowed considerably in High-A Hillsboro, hitting .226/.286/.339 in 16 games.
Cunningham, 20, was considered by many to be the best pure hitter among the high school class in last year’s draft. There were questions about his defensive home — and he did not impress scouts with his defense in his pro debut last year — but he has looked better in the field this season. Still, scouts consider him more likely to best fit at second base once he reaches the majors.
Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (3-7, 6.15) vs. Giants RHP Trevor McDonald (2-6, 4.94).
At Chase Field: Gallen gave up a three-run homer to Rays 3B Junior Caminero, the third batter of the game, in his most recent start, but he proceeded to retire 15 consecutive batters after that. He wound up getting charged with two additional runs in the seventh inning, giving up five runs in 6 2/3 innings. … It was the fifth time in his past six starts he has given up at least four earned runs. … Gallen faced the Giants on May 18, giving up two runs in six innings. It was one of his three wins this season. … McDonald, a rookie, is getting his first extended look in the rotation. … He gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings in his most recent game, his fifth in a row in which he did not register a quality start. … His last quality start came against the Diamondbacks on May 27, when he held them to three runs (two earned) in 6 1/3 innings. … Left-handed hitters have given McDonald trouble. They own a .308/.392/.514 line off him. Righties are at just .189/.284/.211.
Thursday, July 2: Off.
Friday, July 3: At Chase Field, 6:45 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Jose Cabrera (0-1, 3.60) vs. Brewers LHP Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.57).
Saturday, July 4: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (5-8, 5.84) vs. Brewers RHP Brandon Woodruff (2-1, 2.59).
Sunday, July 5: At Chase Field, 1:00 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (7-2, 2.21) vs. Brewers RHP Brandon Sproat (3-4, 5.28).
(This story will be updated. Check back soon.)
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Giants-Diamondbacks updates. Slumping hitter's playing time in doubt
Continue reading...
“Possibly,” Lovullo said. “We have to be mindful of that. We have a couple of other first basemen with (LuJames) Groover and (Ildemaro) Vargas and I’ve got to watch things very closely. I’ll certainly put Pavin in my crosshairs if I need to.”
Smith came off the injured list at the start of June but has struggled badly at the plate, going just 8 for 56 (.143) with one home run in 21 games. The results haven’t been getting any better; he was 1 for 23 over his past seven games entering the Diamondbacks game against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, July 1.
Trouble is, neither Groover nor Vargas has seized opportunities in recent weeks. Groover saw regular at-bats for his first couple of weeks in the majors but did not produce and began to lose starts. He is 8 for 46 (.174) with one homer since getting called up in early June.
Vargas, meanwhile, had a monster April and swung the bat relatively well through the middle of May but has fallen hard since. He is just 9 for 88 (.102) over his past 34 games.
Lovullo offered a pair of minor injury updates. He said catcher James McCann was headed to Tacoma to join Triple-A Reno on a rehab assignment. Lovullo intimated that the stint with Reno would last through the weekend.
Lovullo also clarified the timetable for right-hander Michael Soroka, whom he said a day earlier could be back before the July 13-16 All-Star break. Lovullo seemed to suggest a return after the break was far more likely.
“We’re not going to rush this,” Lovullo said. “It might be some time right after the break. Still in that time zone. I was very hopeful with what I was saying about before the break; it’s a possibility. But I don’t want you guys to be misled by what I said yesterday.”
Soroka is on the injured list with a left glute strain.
Cunningham to play in Futures Game
High-A shortstop Kayson Cunningham will be the Diamondbacks’ lone representative in the Futures Game on July 12 in Philadelphia.
Cunningham, the club’s top pick in last year’s draft, hit a blistering .381 with a .506 slugging in 43 games with Low-A Visalia before being promoted.
He has slowed considerably in High-A Hillsboro, hitting .226/.286/.339 in 16 games.
Cunningham, 20, was considered by many to be the best pure hitter among the high school class in last year’s draft. There were questions about his defensive home — and he did not impress scouts with his defense in his pro debut last year — but he has looked better in the field this season. Still, scouts consider him more likely to best fit at second base once he reaches the majors.
Giants at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (3-7, 6.15) vs. Giants RHP Trevor McDonald (2-6, 4.94).
At Chase Field: Gallen gave up a three-run homer to Rays 3B Junior Caminero, the third batter of the game, in his most recent start, but he proceeded to retire 15 consecutive batters after that. He wound up getting charged with two additional runs in the seventh inning, giving up five runs in 6 2/3 innings. … It was the fifth time in his past six starts he has given up at least four earned runs. … Gallen faced the Giants on May 18, giving up two runs in six innings. It was one of his three wins this season. … McDonald, a rookie, is getting his first extended look in the rotation. … He gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings in his most recent game, his fifth in a row in which he did not register a quality start. … His last quality start came against the Diamondbacks on May 27, when he held them to three runs (two earned) in 6 1/3 innings. … Left-handed hitters have given McDonald trouble. They own a .308/.392/.514 line off him. Righties are at just .189/.284/.211.
Coming up
Thursday, July 2: Off.
Friday, July 3: At Chase Field, 6:45 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Jose Cabrera (0-1, 3.60) vs. Brewers LHP Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.57).
Saturday, July 4: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (5-8, 5.84) vs. Brewers RHP Brandon Woodruff (2-1, 2.59).
Sunday, July 5: At Chase Field, 1:00 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (7-2, 2.21) vs. Brewers RHP Brandon Sproat (3-4, 5.28).
(This story will be updated. Check back soon.)
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Giants-Diamondbacks updates. Slumping hitter's playing time in doubt
Continue reading...
