ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NEWS

Daulton Varsho - Takes seat Thursday Varsho is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Impact After supplying home runs in three consecutive games, Varsho proceeded to go 0-for-8 in the final two contests of Arizona's series in Pittsburgh that concluded Wednesday. The 25-year-old isn't yet locked into a full-time role at any position, but the Diamondbacks' willingness to use him between catcher and the three outfield spots should make him a near-everyday player for the rest of the season.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Asdrúbal Cabrera - Starting after all Updating a previous report, Cabrera will start at third base and bat third Thursday versus the Phillies.

Impact Cabrera was scheduled to get a breather in the series opener, but he was a late addition to the lineup after Arizona scratched David Peralta and Josh VanMeter. As a 35-year-old on an expiring contract, Cabrera wouldn't seem to have much of a future on a rebuilding club like Arizona, so he'll likely see his opportunities take a hit during the final month of the season.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

David Peralta - Removed from lineup Peralta was scratched from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies for an unspecified reason.

Impact It's not yet clear whether Peralta's removal from the lineup was due to an injury, but Josh Rojas will shift to left field while Asdrubal Cabrera enters the lineup at third base. Whether the 34-year-old outfielder is available off the bench remains to be seen.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Asdrúbal Cabrera - Not starting Thursday Cabrera isn't starting Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Impact Manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Cabrera may see less playing time across the final few weeks of the season, and the 35-year-old will be out of the lineup for a second straight game. Josh VanMeter will take over at the hot corner and bat third.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

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AUGUST 26, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

Luke Weaver - Will need time before returning Weaver (shoulder) will not pitch in the majors the next time he takes the mound, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Impact Weaver had been a candidate to start during the team's current road trip, but he got caught up in the COVID-19 "close contact" protocols and must be in quarantine for seven days. The pitcher began his quarantine period last Friday then will need to be cleared in order to resume baseball activities. "He can't go eight or nine days without pitching and then jump onto a big league mound," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "We'll get him into some kind of a live situation, see how he feels and then evaluate him and move forward."

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Asdrúbal Cabrera - Playing time may dry up Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Cabrera's playing time may drop over the final weeks of the season, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Impact Lovullo was asked about Cabrera, who has started 16 of 20 games prior to Wednesday's day off, and the manager said he's "looking to change that a little bit." He added that other veterans' playing time may diminish, but Lovullo was not specific. The young players that aren't already getting everyday at-bats are Josh VanMeter and Drew Ellis, each play positions that Cabrera has filled at times this season.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Brett de Geus - Snares win Wednesday De Geus (3-2) allowed a run and struck out one over a scoreless sixth inning to pick up the win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

Impact De Geus came into a tied game then benefitted from Arizona's bats coming alive in the final innings. A Carson Kelly pinch-hit home run in the seventh followed by a David Peralta two-run double in the eighth secured the win for the reliever, who has a 5.51 ERA since the Diamondbacks claimed him off waivers from the Rangers in June. That represents an improvement after de Geus pitched to an 8.44 ERA while with Texas. It's unclear how the Diamondbacks view the 23-year-old, who was a Rule 5 pick during the offseason. Given that his highest minor-league level was High-A before pitching in Texas this season, the Arizona organization may want to let him finish out the season then develop more fully in the minors next year.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Carson Kelly - Swats pinch-hit HR Kelly entered Wednesday's game as a pinch hitter and hit a solo home run in a 5-2 win over the Pirates.

Impact Kelly's seventh-inning blast turned out to be the winning run. The home run was his first since June 15, snapping a 23-game drought. He continues to be the Diamondbacks' primary catcher, playing four or five games per week, but the team could tilt the balance over the final month and give prospect Daulton Varsho more time behind the dish. Varsho has been getting most of his opportunities in the outfield since Kelly returned from a wrist injury at the end of July.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

David Peralta - Drives in pair Peralta went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI on Wednesday against the Pirates.

Impact Peralta tied the game at two with a single in the sixth inning but was not credited with an RBI due to an error. However, he delivered again two frames later when he doubled in two more runs to put the Diamondbacks up by three. It was Peralta's first multi-RBI performance since Aug. 12, though he has at least one hit in 10 of 12 games in that span. For the season, Peralta has hit .255/.321/.399 with 52 RBI and 45 runs scored across 436 plate appearances.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Pavin Smith - Tallies 10th homer Smith went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Wednesday against the Pirates.

Impact Smith took Nick Mears yard in the sixth inning for his 10th home run of the season. It was Smith's first home run since July 21, though he managed a solid 11 RBI and 13 runs scored across 22 games in that span. While he hasn't hit for significant power, Smith does have a decent .270/.326/.410 line with 57 runs scored and 42 RBI across 451 plate appearances on the campaign.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gallen expected to start for the Diamondbacks against Phillies

The Phillies will roll out Zach Eflin to the mound Thursday and the Diamondbacks plan to give Zac Gallen the start

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tyler Clippard - Earns another save Clippard allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Pirates.

Impact Clippard was handed a three-run lead in the ninth inning. After allowing a leadoff double, he retired the next three batters he faced to secure his fifth save of the season. Clippard has now recorded each of the Diamondbacks' last three saves and appears to be the frontrunner for the limited chances the team has across the final month of the season. Across 13 innings on the campaign, Clippard has maintained a 2.77 ERA with an 11:3 K:BB.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tyler Gilbert - Limits damage across five innings Gilbert allowed two earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out four across five innings Wednesday against the Pirates. He did not factor into the decision.

Impact Gilbert didn't allow a baserunner across his first three innings of work, but he ran into trouble later in his start. He loaded the bases in the fourth frame but avoided major damage. One inning later, he allowed multiple runners to reach scoring position but allowed only one additional earned run. In a tougher matchup, Gilbert likely would have had a more difficult time preventing runs, and he's now allowed 12 hits and four walks while striking out only six across 10 innings and two starts since tossing a no-hitter on Aug. 14.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Torey Lovullo: Diamondbacks to lean more on young players down stretch The Diamondbacks already have been going young, but they might push even farther in that direction over the final five weeks, manager Torey...

AUGUST 26, 2021 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Smith, Kelly homers help Arizona thwart Pirates sweep bid

Carson Kelly and Pavin Smith hit solo home runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks came back against the Pirates’ bullpen for a 5-2 victory

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Merrill Kelly - Needs time to build up Kelly (illness) rejoined the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, but he remains on the COVID-19 injured list and is expected to require a "somewhat lengthy" build-up process, Zach Buchanan of...

Impact After testing positive for the coronavirus Aug. 14, Kelly completed a 10-day quarantine and is no longer exhibiting symptoms. However, because of the layoff, Kelly will likely need to complete multiple bullpen sessions and/or simulated games before the Diamondbacks feel comfortable activating him. Unless the Diamondbacks indicate otherwise, don't expect Kelly to rejoin the big-league rotation until next week at the soonest.

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nick Ahmed - Not in Wednesday's lineup Ahmed isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Ahmed went 1-for-7 with a walk and a strikeout across the last two games and will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last four contests. Josh Rojas will start at shortstop while Josh VanMeter enters the lineup at second base.

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Asdrúbal Cabrera - Gets breather Cabrera is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Drew Ellis will pick up a start at third base while Cabrera rests after starting four of the past five games. The 35-year-old broke out of an 0-for-10 slump in Tuesday's 4-2 loss, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run.

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Carson Kelly - Sits for series finale Kelly is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Kelly will get a breather as the Diamondbacks wrap up their series in Pittsburgh. Daulton Varsho gets a turn behind the plate, catching for starting pitcher Tyler Gilbert.

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

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AUGUST 25, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

Christian Walker - Not in starting lineup for reason? Walker, who did not start Tuesday's game against the Pirates, entered as a pinch hitter and struck out for Madison Bumgarner in the seventh inning of a 4-2 loss.

Impact Walker was on the bench to start the game despite riding a six-game hitting streak. The night before, he drove in three with a single off the wall, and manager Torey Lovullo was asked if he reviewed the play to see if Walker ran hard out of the batter's box. The manager's response was interesting: "I did get a chance to review it," Lovullo said. "Those are some internal things we consider housekeeping, so we'll take care of that." While the manager didn't exactly say Tuesday's benching was a punishment for a lack of hustle Monday, his answer suggests that.

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Noé Ramirez - Loses velo mid-outing Ramirez has experienced diminished fastball velocity during his last two appearances, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Impact Ramirez recently returned from a three-week stay on the injured list due to a positive coronavirus test. The drop in velocity presented itself the deeper he got into an outing. The first time happened in Denver on Saturday, the second of back-to-back days. It happened again Monday when he issued three walks. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo didn't view this as related to the illness, but rather he believes it's a mechanical issue.

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kole Calhoun - Taking at-bats, running soon Calhoun (hamstring) has been taking at-bats in "B" games at the Diamondbacks' training facility, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Impact Calhoun is taking at-bats only and not running nor playing the field. A running-progression program is expected to begin this week. It's unclear what the team plans for Calhoun, who will be 34 and without a contract this offseason, once he's ready to compete again.

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Merrill Kelly - Isolation ends Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Kelly (illness) was scheduled to end his isolation period Tuesday.

Impact Kelly had tested positive for the coronavirus and had been in quarantine since Aug. 14. There was no update Tuesday regarding Kelly's status, but Lovullo told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic on Monday that the pitcher is feeling good, though the right-hander will not rejoin the team on its current road trip.

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE