ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NEWS

Andrew Chafin - Records save Friday Chafin worked a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his first save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Dodgers.

Impact Scott McGough was brought in to finish out the eighth inning and might have remained in the game for the ninth had he pitched well, but instead he walked two batters and threw only four of his 13 pitches for strikes before finally getting an out. As a result, manager Torey Lovullo handed the ball to Chafin in the ninth to face the top of the Dodgers' order, and the southpaw delivered. McGough may have just had some butterflies as he made his first big-league appearance since 2015, and the closer picture in Arizona remains far from clear, but it looks as though Chafin's expected high-leverage role will include some save chances.

APRIL 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Drey Jameson - Notches win in relief Jameson (1-0) picked up the win in Friday's 2-1 victory over the Dodgers, allowing one run on two hits and three walks over four innings of relief. He struck out five.

Impact Merrill Kelly got the start but lasted only 3.2 innings and 74 pitches, forcing the Diamondbacks to turn to their bullpen early. Jameson stepped up with an impressive performance in long relief, firing 38 of his 66 pitches for strikes with 13 swinging strikes. The 25-year-old will continue in his bullpen role for now, but if a spot opens up in the rotation, expect him to get first crack at filling it.

APRIL 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Merrill Kelly - Runs out of gas early Friday Kelly didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 win over the Dodgers, allowing three hits and four walks over 3.2 scoreless innings while striking out four.

Impact The right-hander lasted only 74 pitches in his first start of the season, tossing 42 of them for strikes with 12 swinging strikes, but rookie Drey Jameson took the baton in relief of Kelly and supplied four strong innings of his own to record the win. Considering Kelly threw over 200 innings last year for the first time, some early-season babying in 2023 is justified. The 34-year-old should be ready for a bigger workload in his next outing, which is likely to be a rematch with Los Angeles in Dodger Stadium on Thursday.

APRIL 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday

The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday

APRIL 1, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kyle Lewis' pinch homer sends D-backs past Dodgers Pinch hitter Kyle Lewis belted a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning as the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for a 2-1 victory...

APRIL 1, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Diamondbacks notes: Kristian Robinson's legal saga could be nearing conclusion Prospect Kristian Robinson, who swung the bat well at minor league camp, could finally be nearing the end of his legal woes.

APRIL 1, 2023 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Lewis' pinch-hit homer lifts D-backs over Dodgers 2-1

Kyle Lewis had a pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1

APRIL 1, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodgers apologize to Diamondbacks for stadium lights blunders during season opener The Dodgers apologized to the Arizona Diamondbacks after flickering and dimming LED stadium lights irk the manager and players during season...

APRIL 1, 2023 • LATIMES.COM

Nick Ahmed - Not starting Friday Ahmed isn't in the Diamondbacks' lineup Friday against the Dodgers.

Impact After doubling and scoring a run Thursday, Ahmed will take a seat Friday in favor of Geraldo Perdomo, who will start at shortstop and bat ninth.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Evan Longoria - Sitting Friday Longoria isn't in the lineup Friday against the Dodgers.

Impact Longoria will take a seat Friday after starting the season with an 0-for-3 performance Thursday. Josh Rojas will take over in the hot corner and bat in the leadoff spot.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Alek Thomas - Getting start on Friday Thomas is starting in center field and batting eighth for the Diamondbacks on Friday versus the Dodgers.

Impact Thomas was on the bench for the opener with the Dodgers starting a lefty, but he'll get his first start in this one. He's probably not going to sit against all lefties, but Thomas does appear to be the lowest priority right now among Arizona's three left-handed hitting outfielders.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Corbin Carroll - Batting fifth Friday Carroll is starting in left field and batting fifth for the Diamondbacks in Friday's game versus the Dodgers.

Impact You could kind of understand the left-handed hitting Carroll in the seven spot versus southpaw Julio Urias, but moving up just two spots with righty Dustin May on the bump is disappointing. Carroll does seem like a good bet to move up eventually, but for the time being it's going to affect his counting stats.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Rojas - In leadoff spot for Friday's game Rojas is starting at third base and batting leadoff for the Diamondbacks on Friday against the Dodgers.

Impact Rojas was on the bench in favor of Evan Longoria for the opener with the Dodgers throwing left-hander Julio Urias, but he'll start and lead off versus righty Dustin May. It figures to be a pretty regular platoon between the two this season, although Rojas offers the versatility to play multiple other positions, as well.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Anthony Misiewicz - Dealt to Diamondbacks The Diamondbacks acquired Misiewicz from the Cardinals for cash considerations Friday.

Impact Misiewicz had been designated for assignment for the second time since early February and is on the move again. The left-hander holds a 4.43 ERA and 105:31 K:BB over 130.2 relief innings at the major league level. He'll head to Triple-A Reno for now.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Corbin Martin - Transferred to 60-day IL Martin (lat) was transferred Friday from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.

Impact This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for lefty reliever Anthony Misiewicz, who has been acquired via trade from the Cardinals. Martin is done for the season after undergoing major surgery this spring to repair a right lat tendon avulsion.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

2023 MLB odds: Best win total, division bets, long-shot, title futures, expert picks

FOX Sports betting experts Sam Panayotovich, Chris Fallica and Egros give their early best bets for the MLB season ahead of Opening Day!

MARCH 31, 2023

Dodgers fan's proposal ends with tackle, arrest and engagement

A Dodgers fan rushed the field on Opening Day to propose to his girlfriend before being decked and detained by stadium security — but she st...

MARCH 31, 2023

Kyle Nelson - Called up, appears in relief The Diamondbacks recalled Nelson from Triple-A Reno prior to Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Dodgers. He struck out two and worked around two hits in a scoreless inning.

Impact Nelson was in line to begin the season with Arizona's top affiliate, but Joe Mantiply's (shoulder) placement on the injured list resulted in the southpaw winning a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. The Diamondbacks are expected to deploy Nelson mainly in low-leverage or middle-innings spots while he's up with the big club.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Diamondbacks are ascending, but NL West paradigm didn't shift on Opening Day

The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 8-2 on an unconventional Opening Day. Except for the pitch clock, shift ban and Dodger Stadium's strange n...

MARCH 31, 2023

Joe Mantiply - Goes on IL The Diamondbacks placed Mantiply on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation prior to Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Impact Assuming Mantiply's shoulder issue is in fact nothing more significant than inflammation, he could be in store for a minimum-length stay on the shelf, or close to it. Since his placement on the IL is retroactive to March 27, he'll first be eligible for activation April 11.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Melancon - Begins season on IL Melancon was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Diamondbacks on Thursday with a right shoulder strain.

Impact The veteran reliever was given a platelet-rich plasma injection in mid-March in hopes of speeding along the recovery process. However, his absence could be a matter of months, not weeks.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Carson Kelly - Moves to injured list Kelly (forearm) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Impact The 28-year-old suffered a fractured right forearm late in spring training from a hit-by-pitch, so it's no surprise he's opening the campaign on the injured list. It's unclear how long Kelly is expected to be sidelined, though it's worth noting the Diamondbacks didn't immediately place him on the 60-day IL, suggesting an earlier return could be possible. Gabriel Moreno and Jose Herrera are beginning 2023 as Arizona's backstops, with Moreno starting Opening Day and likely to see the bulk of the starts.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Zac Gallen - Saddled with loss in opener Gallen (0-1) was charged with the loss Thursday versus the Dodgers, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out seven.

Impact He was dinged for three runs on three hits and a walk in his final inning of work, with the final run coming across after he was pulled. The velocity on Gallen's fastball and cutter was down a bit, but he was still able to get seven strikeouts and 13 whiffs. Gallen was wild this spring and that carried over to this outing, as he threw just 55 of 89 pitches for strikes to go along with three free passes. His improved control in 2022 was a big part of his breakout, so hopefully he'll get that ironed out.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nick Ahmed - Doubles, scores on Opening Day Ahmed went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Impact Ahmed got the start at shortstop Opening Day against Los Angeles lefty Julio Urias, but he could find himself on the bench Friday. That's partially due to getting the switch-hitting Geraldo Perdomo in against righty Dustin May, but also because Ahmed, who underwent shoulder surgery last season, will not be an everyday player early on.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cole Sulser - Makes D-backs debut Sulser allowed two runs on two hits and one walk over one inning in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Impact Sulser was brought in after Los Angeles chased starter Zac Gallen with two outs in the fifth inning. Pitching roles in the Diamondbacks' bullpen remains somewhat of mystery, but it looks like Sulser could serve in a middle-relief role for now.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE