Arizona Diamondbacks News Page 389 - MLB | FOX Sports

Kole Calhoun - Plays in intrasquad game Calhoun (hamstring) was cleared to play in an intrasquad game Sept. 3, but the outfielder has yet to complete a running program, MLB.com reports.

Impact Calhoun is taking live at-bats and participating in outfield drills, but until he's able to run the bases at 100 percent, the Diamondbacks likely won't identify a target date for his return from the 10-day injured list. The 33-year-old has been sidelined since Aug. 11 with the strained left hamstring.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Seth Beer - Homers in first AB Beer entered Friday's game as a pinch hitter and hit a home run in the eighth inning of a 5-4 loss to Seattle.

Impact Beer, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Reno earlier in the day, homered in first plate appearance in the majors. The lefty-hitting Beer hit for first baseman Christian Walker against right-hander Diego Castillo and went on to serve as designated hitter for the final inning. The 2018 first-round pick of the Astros posted a .909 OPS with 16 home runs and 33 doubles over 100 games for the Aces. He played primarily at first base in the minors and joins Pavin Smith as a second left-handed bat to complement Walker at the position.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tyler Clippard - Bullpen scheduled for Saturday Clippard (illness) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Impact Clippard landed on the COVID-19 injured list after experiencing symptoms of the virus earlier in the week. Manager Torey Lovullo noted the pitcher tested negative and will be tested again Saturday. Clippard had been closing games for the Diamondbacks prior to being added to the IL.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Merrill Kelly - Throws four innings Kelly (illness) threw four innings and 66 pitches in a rehab start with the Diamondbacks' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Impact Kelly has now had three separate outings since coming out of isolation due to COVID-19 protocols. Before Thursday's rehab start, Kelly completed a 23-pitch bullpen session and a 51-pitch start in an intrasquad game. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo hasn't ruled out Kelly's next start coming in the majors; the right-hander would presumably slot into the Diamondbacks rotation as soon as Tuesday in Los Angeles versus the Dodgers.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Flexen expected to start for Seattle against Arizona

The Mariners will send Chris Flexen to the mound Saturday and the Diamondbacks plan to give Humberto Castellanos the start

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mariners inch closer in wild-card chase, top D'backs 5-4

Tom Murphy hit a two-run home run in the second inning and added a solo shot in the sixth, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 for their eighth win in 11 gam...

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Drew Ellis - Optioned to Triple-A Ellis was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.

Impact Ellis has done very little with his 83 major-league plate appearances this season, hitting .130/.277/.203. He'll head to the minors as the Diamondbacks clear a spot for Seth Beer.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Seth Beer - Earns first call-up Beer's contract was selected by the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Impact Beer isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Mariners but could get the chance to make his major-league debut off the bench. The 24-year-old, who was acquired in the Zack Greinke trade in 2019, is a decent prospect but not an elite one, as he really only stands out in the power department. He's exclusively played first base this season after previously spending some time in the outfield corners, so he'll really have to hit to carve out regular at-bats at the highest level. He did just that in 100 games for Triple-A Reno, slashing .287/.398/.511 with 16 homers while striking out just 17.5 percent of the time. Drew Ellis was optioned to clear a spot on the roster.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Arizona Diamondbacks promote slugger Seth Beer to majors Prospect Seth Beer is getting the call to the majors. He will join the Diamondbacks in Seattle.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Josh VanMeter - Sits against southpaw VanMeter will hit the bench Friday against the Mariners.

Impact VanMeter has made just a single start against a southpaw all season, so it's no surprise to see him on the bench here against lefty Marco Gonzales. Josh Rojas will start at third base.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

David Peralta - Day off Friday Peralta will sit Friday against the Mariners.

Impact Peralta sits after homering in two of his last three games. Henry Ramos will get the start in left field.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Diamondbacks vs Mariners Prediction and Pick for MLB Game Tonight From FanDuel Sportsbook Tonight's slate of MLB games includes a clash between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners. Diamondbacks vs Mariners Prediction and...

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

Humberto Castellanos - Gets another turn in rotation Castellanos is listed as the Diamondbacks' scheduled starter for Saturday's game in Seattle.

Impact With Taylor Widener recently moving to the bullpen and Merrill Kelly (illness) still in the process of building up after being placed on the COVID-19 injured list, Castellanos will pick up a second straight start following his Sept. 4 call-up from Triple-A Reno. He faltered in his start against this same Mariners squad, lasting only 3.2 innings while giving up five runs on seven hits and a walk in a no-decision. Kelly threw 51 pitches in an intrasquad game last weekend and looks on track to return from the IL next week, so Castellanos will likely head to the bullpen or back to Triple-A following Saturday's outing.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Daulton Varsho - Ends RBI drought Varsho started at catcher and went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in Wednesday's 8-5 loss to the Rangers.

Impact Varsho doubled home Henry Ramos during Arizona's two-run second inning, ending an 11-game drought without a run batted in. The Diamondbacks fell for the 10th time in 11 games and are 50 games below .500. That's a situation calling out for guys like Varsho to play daily, but he's used mostly against right-handers, despite an .850 OPS across 60 plate appearances against southpaws. While having him play catcher every day is unsustainable, particularly with Carson Kelly also in need of at-bats, he can play the outfield.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Brandyn Sittinger - Makes MLB debut Sittinger allowed one walk over a scoreless relief inning in Wednesday's 8-5 loss to Texas.

Impact Sittinger made his MLB debut after his contract was selected from Triple-A Reno on Tuesday. He entered a clean seventh inning with Arizona trailing 5-3. The 27-year-old right-hander had a combined 4.03 ERA with five saves over 33 games at Double-A Amarillo and Reno. In theory, he's being evaluated for a spot in next year's bullpen.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sports betting starts in Arizona in time for NFL season

Arizona’s first sports betting operations are now open in time for the start of the NFL season with live wagers allowed on college and professional sports

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nick Ahmed - Slugs late homer Ahmed went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 8-5 loss to Texas.

Impact The shortstop went yard in the ninth inning, but Arizona's two-run rally wasn't enough to get close to a tie. Five of Ahmed's last 10 hits have gone for extra bases (three doubles, one triple, one homer), a span of 10 games overall. He's hitting .223/.283/.345 with five long balls, 38 RBI, 45 runs scored and seven stolen bases across 450 plate appearances this year, but he continues to see a significant share of playing time.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

David Peralta - Cranks eighth homer Peralta went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 8-5 loss to Texas.

Impact The outfielder opened the scoring with his second-inning blast. Peralta also got aboard on a fielder's choice in the sixth before scoring on a Christian Walker single. While he's rarely been a power threat this year, Peralta has homered twice in his last three games to give him eight for the year. The 34-year-old is slashing .261/.325/.410 with 55 RBI, 51 runs scored, two stolen bases, 24 doubles and eight triples through 471 plate appearances.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Luke Weaver - Dealt fourth loss Weaver (3-4) allowed three runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings, taking the loss Wednesday versus Texas.

Impact The right-hander's second start back from a rotator cuff injury didn't go as smoothly as the first. Weaver ran into trouble in the fourth inning, and Texas held the lead from there after putting up three runs against the 28-year-old. He's pitched to a 4.24 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 45:15 K:BB across 51 innings in 10 starts this year. Weaver projects for a tough road start versus the Dodgers next week.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

The Diamondbacks are once again threatening the 2004 team for the title of worst in franchise history Heading into an off day Thursday, Arizona is 45-95, a whopping 50 games under .500. They are on pace to win 52 games and lose 110.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Lowe helps power Rangers sweep past Diamondbacks 8-5

Nathaniel Lowe had three hits, Jose Trevino drove in three and the Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-5 to match a season high with their fourth straight win

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rangers bat around in 4th to sweep D-backs PHOENIX -- The Rangers’ lineup went down in order through three innings in Wednesday’s series finale against the D-backs. But the offense fi...

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • MLB.COM

Jose Trevino's three-RBI day helps lead Rangers over Diamondbacks, 8-5

Jose Trevino's three-RBI day helps lead Rangers over Diamondbacks, 8-5

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • Fox Sports

Drew Ellis - Working in short-side platoon role Ellis is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

Impact After starting at third base three times in a four-game stretch last week, Ellis will be on the bench for the third straight contest Wednesday. It's worth noting that each of the righty-hitting Ellis' previous three starts came versus left-handed pitchers, so he looks like he'll fill the short side of a platoon at the hot corner with the lefty-hitting Josh VanMeter now that Asdrubal Cabrera is no longer on the roster.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Andrew Young - Settles back into bench role Young remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

Impact Young closed the weekend with three consecutive starts at second base, with the 27-year-old going 3-for-10 with three doubles, a walk, two runs and an RBI over that stretch. Despite the solid showing over the weekend, Young still looks like he'll be in store for little more than a part-time role in September. He'll be on the bench for the second straight day Wednesday.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE