ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NEWS

Mark Melancon - Can't protect one-run lead Melancon (1-6) took the loss Saturday versus the Pirates. He allowed two runs on two hits without recording an out.

Impact Melancon was taken deep by Jack Suwinski for a walkoff two-run home run in the ninth inning. This was the fifth time in 22 appearances Melancon has allowed multiple runs. He's now 11-for-13 in save chances while sporting an ugly 6.87 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB through 18.1 innings. Ian Kennedy or Joe Mantiply could be options for saves if Melancon's struggles continue deeper into the season.

JUNE 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Zach Davies - Gem goes to waste Davies pitched 7.2 shutout innings Saturday versus the Pirates, allowing three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in a no-decision.

Impact Davies was excellent, throwing 62 of 101 pitches for strikes in easily his best start of the year. The Diamondbacks generated just one run of support, and that thin lead didn't stick when Mark Melancon blew the save in the ninth inning. Considering Davies had allowed at least three runs in each of his last four starts, this is a step in the right direction. He's now at a 4.18 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 43:21 K:BB through 56 innings in 11 starts this year. The 29-year-old is expected to make his next start in Cincinnati next week.

JUNE 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Suwinski hits 2-run HR in bottom of 9th, Pirates beat Dbacks

Rookie Jack Suwinski hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied past the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1

JUNE 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jake McCarthy - On bench Saturday McCarthy isn't starting Saturday against the Pirates.

Impact McCarthy went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's series opener against Pittsburgh, but he'll be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games. Pavin Smith will start in right field while Jordan Luplow serves as the designated hitter.

JUNE 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Daulton Varsho - Not in Saturday's lineup Varsho isn't starting Saturday against the Pirates.

Impact Varsho started in the last four games and went 1-for-14 with three runs, an RBI, two walks and four strikeouts. Jose Herrera will start behind the plate and bat ninth.

JUNE 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Luplow - Returns to lineup Luplow (foot) is starting Saturday against the Pirates, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Luplow exited the Diamondbacks' loss to the Dodgers on May 27 after fouling a ball off his left foot, but he went 0-for-2 with a strikeout as a pinch hitter during Tuesday's win over Atlanta. The 28-year-old is serving as the designated hitter and batting sixth Saturday.

JUNE 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Alek Thomas - Beats shift twice Thomas went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Friday's 8-6 win over the Pirates.

Impact The lefty-batting Thomas found a way to beat the shift. He pulled both homers over the right-center field fence, including the longest of five blasts hit by the Diamondbacks, a 432-footer that tied the game in the third inning. The rookie entered the contest on a 4-for-31 (.129) run, as opponents found success when deploying shifts against him, after Thomas opened his MLB career with a .963 OPS over 14 games.

JUNE 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

D-Backs vs. Pirates prediction, betting odds for MLB on Saturday The Pittsburgh Pirates square off with the Arizona D-Backs in MLB on Saturday. This preview includes our best bet of the game.

JUNE 4, 2022 • PENNLIVE.COM

Ketel Marte - Ends HR drought Marte went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 8-6 win over Pittsburgh.

Impact Marte's two-run shot in the fifth inning extended his hitting streak to 15 games and ended a stretch of 20 contests without a homer. Since swatting 32 home runs in 2019, Marte's power has been held in check by missed time due to injury. He's been healthy thus far but has just three home runs over 49 games.

JUNE 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jake McCarthy - Swats homer in win McCarthy started in right field and went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 8-6 win over the Pirates.

Impact McCarthy, who provided an initial spark in his return from the minors, returned to the starting lineup after being held out Tuesday and Wednesday. The homer was the second of the season for McCarthy, who's batting .256 (10-for-39) with four extra-base hits, seven RBI, eight runs scored and a stolen base over 11 games since his recall. He continues to share right field with Pavin Smith, who served as the designated hitter Friday.

JUNE 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Christian Walker - Goes yard in win Walker went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's 8-6 win over Pittsburgh.

Impact Walker cranked his team-leading 14th homer, the eighth in the last 17 games, in the second inning to even the score at one run apiece. The first baseman's .190 BABIP has led to a .211 batting average, but Walker leads the team in slugging (.489) with 22 of his 38 hits going for extra bases. He also leads the Diamondbacks with 26 RBI.

JUNE 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Luke Weaver - Begins rehab assignment Weaver threw two innings and 43 pitches for Triple-A Reno on Thursday, Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic reports.

Impact This was Weaver's first rehab appearance, and the right-hander is scheduled for a second one Tuesday. The Diamondbacks flirted with using him in the bullpen, but it looks like Weaver's prepping for a return as a starter.

JUNE 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Carson Kelly - Heads out on rehab Kelly (oblique) took live batting practice Thursday and was scheduled to join Triple-A Reno to be the designated hitter Saturday, Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic reports.

Impact This is first positive news coming out of Kelly's recovery from a strained oblique that first surfaced May 6. The length of Kelly's stint at Reno is not yet determined.

JUNE 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Diamondbacks face the Pirates with 1-0 series lead

The Arizona Diamondbacks take a 1-0 lead into the next game of the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates

JUNE 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thomas launches two of D-backs' five dingers PITTSBURGH -- The D-backs aren’t built to be a top homer-hitting team in MLB, but they’ve shown streaks of it. As recently as a stretch from...

JUNE 4, 2022 • MLB.COM

Thomas hits 2 of Diamondbacks' 5 HRs in win over Pirates

Rookie Alek Thomas hit two of Arizona’s five home runs and the Diamondbacks opened a long road trip by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-6

JUNE 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nick Ahmed - Facing shutdown Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Ahmed will be shut down after dealing with some right shoulder soreness during his rehab, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Impact Ahmed has been on the COVID-19 injured list since May 17, but he was cleared to play in extended spring training games this week. However, he's apparently dealing with a shoulder issue and will meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache to determine the next steps in his rehab process. It's not yet clear when the 32-year-old will be able to rejoin the Diamondbacks, but Geraldo Perdomo should continue to serve as the team's primary shortstop in Ahmed's absence.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Fantasy baseball waiver wire: David Peralta, Michael Harris and more Al Melchior identifies some waiver wire hitting targets benefiting from an increased launch angle, starting with Arizona's David Peralta.

JUNE 3, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Keynan Middleton - Reinstated, sent down Friday Middleton (elbow) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Impact Middleton made a relief appearance in Reno on Thursday, and he struck out one in a scoreless inning. However, the right-hander will remain with the minor-league club now that he's healthy after Taylor Widener was called up Friday.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Paul Fry - Sent down Friday Fry was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Impact Fry made a relief appearance against Atlanta after being recalled Wednesday, and he allowed a run on two hits and two walks while striking out two in one inning. He'll be cast off the active roster ahead of the team's weekend series in Pittsburgh, but he'll remain on the taxi squad.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Taylor Widener - Recalled by Arizona Widener was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Impact Widener was sent to Reno in early May, but he'll rejoin the big-league club after spending just over a month in the minors. He's allowed two runs in three innings over three relief appearances for the Diamondbacks in 2022.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Once an afterthought, Diamondbacks' Joe Mantiply has been one of baseball's best relievers Among relievers with 20 innings pitched, Joe Mantiply has the National League’s lowest walk rate and its lowest ERA at 0.45.

JUNE 3, 2022 • AZCENTRAL.COM

D-Backs vs. Pirates prediction, betting odds for MLB on Friday The Pittsburgh Pirates lock horns with the Arizona D-Backs in MLB on Friday. This preview features our best bet of the game.

JUNE 3, 2022 • PENNLIVE.COM

Diamondbacks visit the Pirates to start 3-game series

The Pittsburgh Pirates start a three-game series at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday

JUNE 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Madison Bumgarner - Gets little help in loss Bumgarner (2-4) took the loss Wednesday as the Diamondbacks were downed 6-0 by Atlanta, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.

Impact The veteran lefty pitched well enough to earn a win, but Arizona's offense never showed up. Bumgarner tossed 103 pitches (62 strikes) en route to his second quality start of the season, and he'll take a 3.31 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 37:18 K:BB through 54.1 innings into his next outing.

JUNE 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE