AUGUST 29, 2021 • MLB.COM
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS 89-73 · 3RD IN NL WEST
89-73 · 3RD IN NL WEST
Bumgarner's stuff dips as D-backs drop finale PHILADELPHIA -- Madison Bumgarner cruised through his first seven starts after returning from the injured list on July 16, thanks in large p...
Andrew Young - Called up, starting Sunday The Diamondbacks recalled Young from Triple-A Reno on Sunday. He'll start at second base and bat sixth in Arizona's series finale in Philadelphia.
Impact Arizona released No. 3 catcher Bryan Holaday to open up a spot on the 26-man active roster for Young. Though he'll be included in the lineup in his return to Arizona, the righty-hitting Young isn't expected to fill anything more than a short-side platoon role in the infield over the final month of the season.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Josh VanMeter - Sitting Sunday VanMeter is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
Impact VanMeter will take a seat after he was included in the lineup for four of the past five games, drawing two starts apiece at second and third base. Though he isn't locked in as a lineup regular for Arizona, the club's recent decision to cut Asdrubal Cabrera should allow VanMeter to handle a near-everyday role against right-handed pitching for the rest of the season.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Pavin Smith - Not starting Sunday Smith is out of the lineup Sunday against the Phillies.
Impact Smith started the past five games and will take a seat after going 4-for-20 with a solo home run, two walks and three additional runs scored. Jake McCarthy will receive a look in right field Sunday for Arizona.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Daulton Varsho - Heads to bench Varsho is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
Impact After starting in seven of the Diamondbacks' last eight games while hitting .267 with three home runs, six RBI and five runs, Varsho will receive some routine maintenance. Carson Kelly will draw the start behind the plate in the series finale, while the Diamondbacks roll out an outfield of Josh Rojas, Ketel Marte and Jake McCarthy.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
David Peralta - Sitting against lefty Peralta is out of the lineup Sunday against the Phillies.
Impact Peralta started the past two games and will head to the bench Sunday with lefty Ranger Suarez on the mound for Philadelphia. Josh Rojas will shift to left field while Andrew Young starts at the keystone.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Diamondbacks vs Phillies Prediction and Pick for MLB Game Today From FanDuel Sportsbook Today's slate of MLB games includes a clash between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies. Diamondbacks vs Phillies Prediction...
AUGUST 29, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM
Ketel Marte - Starts in center field Marte started in center field and went 1-for-4 in Saturday's 7-0 loss to Philadelphia
Impact Marte made his first start since leaving Thursday's game with a hip injury. He entered Friday's game as a pinch hitter then played four innings at second base. It was uncertain if Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo would continue to use Marte in center field -- having his primary position be second base has often been a discussion topic among the team's decision makers -- but it looks like he'll continue on in center.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Daulton Varsho - Starts in RF Varsho started in right field and went 1-for-3 in Saturday's 7-0 loss to the Phillies.
Impact Varsho filled in at center field when Ketel Marte was forced to leave Thursday's game, but Marte returned to the starting lineup Saturday, so it looks like center field will not be a regular gig for Varsho. He's appeared in eight consecutive games (seven starts), lining up at catcher and all three outfield spots. Varsho is batting 8-for-30 (.267) with three home runs, one double, one triple, six RBI and five runs over those eight contests.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Luke Weaver - Clears protocols Weaver (shoulder) cleared COVID-19 protocols Saturday.
Impact Weaver was deemed a close contact and required a seven-day period away from the team. He's set to resume baseball activities and will need to perform in a "live situation," per Arizona manager Torey Lovullo, before rejoining the club. Prior to being placed in the seven-day shutdown period, Weaver was on a rehab assignment, and it was possible his next start would be in the majors. That suggests a return to the Diamondbacks in short order.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Humberto Mejía - Falls to Phillies Mejia (0-1) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings as the Diamondbacks were downed 7-0 by the Phillies. He struck out three.
Impact The right-hander's second start of the season didn't go quite as well as his first. Mejia served up back-to-back solo shots in the third inning to Odubel Herrera and Jean Segura among the six extra-base hits the Phillies racked up against him, while the Arizona offense only managed four hits in total all night. Mejia sports a 4.91 ERA and 1.55 WHIP through 11 innings, and it's not clear if he'll remain in the rotation beyond this outing.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Kyle Gibson dazzles as Phillies blank Diamondbacks Didi Gregorius hit three doubles, Kyle Gibson pitched six sharp innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-0 on S...
AUGUST 29, 2021 • MCALL.COM
Gregorius hits 3 doubles, Gibson sharp, Phils top Dbacks 7-0
Didi Gregorius hit three doubles, Kyle Gibson pitched six sharp innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-0AUGUST 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
McCarthy's debut makes for roundabout trip PHILADELPHIA -- This week did not go anywhere near as planned for Jake McCarthy \-\- or his family. McCarthy's family was in Reno, Nevada, t...
AUGUST 28, 2021 • MLB.COM
Christian Walker - Not starting Saturday Walker will sit Saturday against the Phillies.
Impact Walker has shown signs of life at the plate recently, hitting .371/.463/.600 over his last 10 games, but that's only been enough to drag his OPS on the season up to .684. Pavin Smith starts at first base in his absence, with Daulton Varsho starting in right field.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Humberto Mejía - Rewarded with second start Mejia is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Phillies.
Impact He'll be awarded a second straight turn through the rotation after he limited the Pirates to two runs while striking out seven over five innings in his Arizona debut Monday. The 24-year-old right-hander might not have much longevity in the rotation with Arizona expected to get back Luke Weaver (shoulder) back from the 60-day injured list and Merrill Kelly (illness) back from the COVID-19-related injured list within the next couple of weeks.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Diamondbacks vs Phillies Prediction and Pick for MLB Game Tonight From FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona Diamondbacks vs Philadelphia Phillies prediction and MLB pick straight up for tonight's game between ARI vs PHI.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM
Christian Walker - Blasts game-tying homer Walker went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer and three strikeouts in Friday's 7-6 loss to the Phillies.
Impact Walker struck out in his first three at-bats Friday, but he sent the game to extra innings with his two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning. The 30-year-old has recorded hits in eight of his last 10 games and has slashed .371/.463/.600 with two homers, two doubles, eight RBI and six runs during that time.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Taylor Clarke - Tagged with loss in extras Clarke (1-1) allowed an unearned run on two hits and no walks in a third of an inning to take the loss against the Phillies on Friday.
Impact Clarke forced a fielder's choice to begin the 11th inning Friday, but he gave up a pair of singles and was charged with his first loss of the season as a result. The right-hander has made 10 relief appearances since he was reinstated from the 10-day injured list in early August, and he's recorded an 8.22 ERA and 2.22 WHIP in 7.2 innings during that time.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Ketel Marte - Enters Friday's game Marte (hip) entered Friday's game as a pinch hitter and played four innings at second base in a 7-6 extra-inning loss to Philadelphia. He went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run.
Impact Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic prior to the game that Marte's hip injury was not serious, adding that he would be available off the bench Friday and expected to start Saturday. It's interesting that Marte played second base, and not his usual home in center field. That could be due to the circumstances of the game, or perhaps the Diamondbacks want the oft-injured Marte playing a less stressful position. After the Diamondbacks waived Asdrubal Cabrera, at-bats are available at second and third base, though the team may want to give more regular infield work to players like Josh Rojas, Josh VanMeter and Drew Ellis.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Kole Calhoun - Adds more activity Calhoun (hamstring) is working through a running program and practicing in the outfield.
Impact Calhoun started his rehab by taking live at-bats and now adds running and outfield work to the program. The next major step for the outfielder is to combine all three activities in a game situation.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Merrill Kelly - Throws bullpen session Kelly (illness) threw a 23-pitch bullpen session Friday.
Impact Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Kelly felt fine throughout the session, and the right-hander did not have any stamina issues. The plan is to build up his pitch count over the next week through bullpen sessions or simulated games. It's unclear if Kelly will go out on rehab or slip back into the Diamondbacks' rotation.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Jake McCarthy - Makes MLB debut McCarthy started in center field and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Friday's 7-6 extra-innings loss to the Phillies.
Impact McCarthy was called up from Triple-A Reno on Friday and made his MLB debut that night, filling in for the injured Ketel Marte (hip) in center. Marte's injury might normally clear a path to at-bats for Daulton Varsho, a catcher/outfield prospect, but he was behind the plate Friday while Carson Kelly got a breather. Seeing that Marte entered the game as a pinch hitter and played four innings at second base, he should be back in the center field mix, although the Diamondbacks may want him playing a less stressful position in the infield. McCarthy had a combined .832 OPS with 15 home runs and 29 steals at Double-A Amarillo and Reno.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Mejia expected to start for the Diamondbacks against Phillies
The Phillies are expected to send Kyle Gibson to the mound Saturday and the Diamondbacks plan to give Humberto Mejia the startAUGUST 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Taylor Widener - Gives up two runs in no-decision Widener allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four in five innings in Friday's loss to the Phillies. He didn't factor into the decision.
Impact Widener lasted five innings for a fourth consecutive outing, but he's settled for no-decisions in three of those four appearances. However, the right-hander has been much more effective recently after he gave up five runs in each of his first three outings after the All-Star break. He's posted a 2.70 ERA in 20 innings across his last four outings and tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Padres on Wednesday.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
