AUGUST 23, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS 89-73 · 3RD IN NL WEST
89-73 · 3RD IN NL WEST
Zach Buchanan: In addition to Humberto Mejia being called up... - The Athletic In addition to Humberto Mejia being called up, Joe Mantiply is back from the COVID-19 injured list.
MLB Power Rankings: Giants, Dodgers proving the power lies out West
The Giants and Dodgers are setting up an epic race in the NL West. See where they land in Ben Verlander's power rankings.AUGUST 23, 2021
Daulton Varsho - Stellar against Rockies Varsho went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run, a double, a triple, an additional RBI, an additional run scored and a walk in Sunday's win over the Rockies.
Impact Surprisingly, Varsho came up short to complete the cycle since he didn't hit a single, as all three of his hits were extra-base knocks. The backstop, who has been playing in the outfield of late as well, racked up five hits across eight at-bats in the weekend series against the Rockies and has also homered in back-to-back contests for the second time in 2021. He's slashing an impressive .325/.413/.675 with three homers, eight RBI and six runs scored across 46 plate appearances this month.
AUGUST 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Diamondbacks vs Pirates Prediction and Pick for MLB Game Tonight From FanDuel Sportsbook Tonight's slate of MLB games includes a clash between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Pittsburgh Pirates. Diamondbacks vs Pirates Prediction an...
AUGUST 23, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM
Caleb Smith - Makes first post-ejection appearance Smith came on in relief to pitch two innings in Sunday's 8-4 win over the Rockies, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two.
Impact The 30-year-old southpaw returned to the mound for the first time since Wednesday, when he was ejected during his relief appearance against the Phillies after umpires detected a foreign substance on his glove. Smith's status remains in limbo while MLB conducts tests on the glove in an attempt to verify the umpires' assessment, but if a foreign substance is found, he would be subject to a 10-game suspension. It's unclear when MLB plans to announce its findings from the investigation of the glove.
AUGUST 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Christian Walker - Supplies solo shot in win Walker went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-4 win over the Rockies.
Impact Walker extended his hitting streak to five games when he took Robert Stephenson deep in the top of the seventh inning to give Arizona a 6-1 lead. The 42-83 Diamondbacks could grant Walker more frequent days off in September to evaluate younger options, but the 30-year-old still looks to be the club's top option at first base.
AUGUST 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Taylor Widener - Claims second win Widener improved to 2-1 after limiting the Rockies to one run over five innings Sunday in Arizona's 8-4 victory. He allowed one hit and issued five walks while striking out five.
Impact A five-walk start usually spells disaster for a pitcher at Coors Field, but Widener was able to skirt damage on balls in play to help Arizona ends its seven-game losing streak in Colorado. Though he's been able to bring his season ERA down to 4.34 after turning in back-to-back five-inning, one-run outings, Widener's .095 BABIP, 4.9 K-BB% and 94.3 percent strand rate between those starts are all metrics that suggest he benefited from some incredible good fortune. Fantasy managers shouldn't bet on Widener coming out of his upcoming start next weekend in Philadelphia unscathed.
AUGUST 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Focus on the future: The 16 players the Diamondbacks need to evaluate the most down the stretch Daulton Varsho and Josh VanMeter are among the players the Diamondbacks are counting on to form the next core. Who else is on the list?
AUGUST 23, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Arizona Diamondbacks to visit the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates will start Wil Crowe on Monday while the Diamondbacks have yet to announce who will get the startAUGUST 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Zach Buchanan: Right-hander Humberto Mejia will start tomorrow... - The Athletic Right-hander Humberto Mejia will start tomorrow for the Diamondbacks. His first MLB start of the year.
AUGUST 22, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Humberto Mejía - Slated to start Monday Mejia will be called up to start Monday's game against the Pirates, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Impact Mejia was promoted to Triple-A Reno in early June, and he recorded a 5.93 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 54.2 innings across 12 starts. He made three starts for the Marlins last year and will make a spot start during Monday's series opener in Pittsburgh.
AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
D-backs' patience helps Widener notch win DENVER -- They say that walks hurt you in baseball, and that goes double for a hitter-friendly ballpark like Coors Field. On Sunday afternoo...
AUGUST 22, 2021 • MLB.COM
Rox fall to D-backs at end of 5-1 homestand DENVER -- After flying through the first five games of their latest homestand, the Rockies fell into the ruts in Sunday’s finale -- an 8-4 l...
AUGUST 22, 2021 • MLB.COM
Varsho homers, Diamondbacks beat Rockies, 8-4
Daulton Varsho hit a three-run homer and finished a single short of hitting for the cycle to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Colorado Rockies 8-4 on Sunday for a rare win at...AUGUST 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Zac Gallen - Bullpen spoils strong start Gallen took a no-decision Saturday in the Diamondbacks' 5-2 loss to the Rockies after tossing seven shutout innings. He scattered three hits and one walk while striking out nine.
Impact Gallen outdueled Colorado starter Kyle Freeland (two runs allowed over seven innings) and departed with the lead, but the Arizona bullpen was unable to seal the deal and kept the right-hander out of the win column for a 13th consecutive start. On the bright side, the nine strikeouts established a new season high for Gallen, and for at least one start, he navigated the unfavorable confines of Coors Field and solved the home-run problems that had been troubling him of late. Gallen had yielded eight gopher balls across his last five starts.
AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Asdrúbal Cabrera - Takes seat Sunday Cabrera is on the bench for Sunday's series finale in Colorado.
Impact A hitless Saturday lowered Cabrera's average to .211 in the last 10 games. He's tallied three doubles, a home run and two RBI in that span. Drew Ellis is playing third base and batting seventh Sunday.
AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Carson Kelly - On bench Sunday Kelly is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Impact A 1-for-4 performance Saturday has Kelly hitting .314 with two extra-base hits, four RBI and four walks in his last 10 games. Daulton Varsho is catching and batting eighth Sunday.
AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Ahmed - Sitting Saturday Ahmed is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Impact He gets the day off following a brutal 0-for-4, four-strikeout performance Saturday, which lowered his average to .194 in the last 10 games. Josh Rojas is playing shortstop and batting leadoff Sunday.
AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Diamondbacks vs Rockies Prediction and Pick for MLB Game Today From FanDuel Sportsbook Today's slate of MLB games includes a clash between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Diamondbacks vs Rockies Prediction and Pi...
AUGUST 22, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM
Noé Ramirez - Can't hold lead Ramirez allowed two runs on one hit and one walk in one inning of Saturday's 5-2 loss to Colorado.
Impact Ramirez, who was recently reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list, came on in the eighth inning to protect a 2-0 lead but failed in that endeavor. The right-hander walked the first batter faced, then was tagged for a two-run home run by pinch hitter Garrett Hampson. He had pitched in a similar role prior to his IL stint and was effective. Entering Saturday's game, Ramirez authored six consecutive scoreless outings, allowing one hit, walking none and striking out six while picking up four holds.
AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Daulton Varsho - Goes deep in loss Varsho started in left field and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Rockies.
Impact Varsho led off the fifth inning with his seventh homer of the season to give Arizona a lead before its bullpen faltered in the final two frames. He made his fifth start of the season in left field, as the Diamondbacks look for ways to get younger talent in the lineup. Manager Torey Lovullo has replaced the 34-year-old David Peralta in left field with Varsho and Josh Rojas in three of the last four games. Varsho has hit well since the break, batting .319 (23-for-72) with six home runs, five doubles, 13 RBI and 15 runs scored over 26 contests.
AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Widener expected to start for the Diamondbacks against Rockies
The Diamondbacks will start Taylor Widener on Sunday and the Rockies are expected to counter with Jon GrayAUGUST 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Josh Rojas - Gets day off Saturday Rojas is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies.
Impact Another multi-hit effort Friday has Rojas hitting .548 with six extra-base hits and seven RBI in his last eight games. Drew Ellis is playing second base and batting eighth Saturday.
AUGUST 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
David Peralta - Out again Saturday Peralta is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies.
Impact After tripling as a pinch hitter Friday, Peralta has now hit .244 with three extra-base hits and five RBI since the beginning of August. Daulton Varsho is playing left field and batting seventh Saturday.
AUGUST 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Luke Weaver - Works 4.1 innings in rehab start Weaver (shoulder) covered 4.1 innings Friday in his rehab start for Triple-A Reno, surrendering three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six.
Impact Making the third start of his rehab assignment and his second in a row at Triple-A, Weaver built up to 73 pitches Friday, pumping 50 in for strikes. The workload suggests that he's sufficiently built up for starting duty, so the Diamondbacks could reinstate him from the 60-day injured list and have him make his next start with the big club. Before he was shut down in late May with a right rotator cuff strain, Weaver made eight starts for Arizona, posting a 4.50 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 40 innings.
AUGUST 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
