PAVIN SMITH NEWS

Not in lineup Tuesday Smith is absent from the lineup Tuesday versus the Brewers.

Impact Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy will start across the outfield while Lourdes Gurriel takes a turn as the Diamondbacks' designated hitter. Smith had a decent showing over the weekend against Cleveland but is slashing just .161/.266/.268 in 65 plate appearances since the beginning of June.

JUNE 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Monday Smith is not in the starting lineup Monday versus the Brewers.

Impact Smith will get a breather after he went 3-for-10 with an RBI and a run scored over the three-game series with Cleveland. Jake McCarthy will slide over to right field while Alek Thomas draws the start in center and bats eighth in the opener in Milwaukee.

JUNE 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dropped to sixth Smith batted sixth and went 2-for-4 in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Guardians.

Impact A day after he was given a vote of confidence as a leadoff hitter from manager Torey Lovullo, Smith was dropped to the six hole Saturday. Since May 27, he'd been the primary leadoff batter against right-handers but was dropped against Cleveland righty Shane Bieber. Smith's numbers atop the order (.148/.258/.333) don't support his continued use in that role, but Lovullo sounded optimistic when speaking with Eli McKown of the Arizona Republic on Friday. Geraldo Perdomo moved from the lower third of the order to leadoff Saturday.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Halts skid Smith went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI in Friday's 5-1 win over the Guardians.

Impact Smith entered the game on an 0-for-10 run, which expanded to 0-for-12 before his sixth-inning single plated a run. He batted leadoff once again, which he's regularly done since May 27, and received a vote of confidence in that role from manager Torey Lovullo prior to Friday's game, Eli McKown of Arizona Republic reports. "I don't want to run from the success that he's had," Lovullo said pregame. "I know that he's very capable of getting a great run." Despite the manager's confidence, Smith is batting just .148/.248/.221 from the leadoff spot.

JUNE 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in win Smith went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's win over the Tigers.

Impact Smith gave the Diamondbacks a 2-1 lead with his two-run shot off Joey Wentz. It's his seventh homer of the season and his first against a lefty. Smith had been stuck in a 3-for-29 (.103) slump coming into Sunday's contests. He's now slashing .209./316/.385 with 27 RBI and 23 runs scored through 172 place appearances while platooning against right-handing pitching.

JUNE 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Smacks sixth home run Smith went 2-for-6 with a two-run homer and an additional RBI in Tuesday's win over the Nationals.

Impact After going hitless (0-for-11) across his last three appearances, Smith rattled off a pair of hits Tuesday, highlighted by a seventh-inning long ball off Chad Kuhl. Though Smith has struggled atop the Arizona lineup (.147 AVG) so far, he should be expected to move back toward his season average of .212 and provide considerable fantasy value as the leadoff man for MLB's sixth highest scoring offense.

JUNE 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back in lineup Smith batted leadoff and went 0-for-4 in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Atlanta.

Impact Smith was back in the lineup after getting a day off Friday. He also back at leadoff with Arizona facing right-hander Spencer Strider. The leadoff experiment started a couple of weeks ago and produced mixed results. Smith is 5-for-30 (.167) with five walks (.286 OBP) in eight games atop the order.

JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Friday Smith is not in the starting lineup Friday versus Atlanta.

Impact Smith will get a day off after he went 3-for-8 with a homer, a double, four RBI and three runs scored while drawing four walks and striking out twice in the team's series with Colorado. Ketel Marte will slot in at designated hitter while Nick Ahmed enters the lineup at shortstop and bats eighth in the series opener with Atlanta.

JUNE 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Reaches base five times Smith went 2-for-2 with three walks, a double, one RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-0 win over Colorado.

Impact Smith finally looked like a leadoff hitter Wednesday, reaching base five times. That equaled the number of times he reached base safely over the previous eight contests as Arizona's leadoff batter. In nine games atop the order, Smith is 5-for-29 with five walks. The lefty hitter should be back there once again Thursday against Colorado right-hander Connor Seabold.

JUNE 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

At leadoff again Wednesday Smith is hitting leadoff again Wednesday against the Rockies.

Impact Smith has batted just .212 with a .315 on-base percentage through 39 games (130 plate appearances) this season, but he's been at leadoff in each of his last four starts and seems to be the Diamondbacks' preferred option for that role against right-handed pitching. Colorado is throwing righty Dinelson Lamet on Wednesday.

MAY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats three-run homer Smith went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in a 7-5 win against the Rockies on Monday.

Impact Smith's lone hit of the game was a big one, as his 426-foot three-run shot in the second inning gave the Diamondbacks a lead that they did not relinquish. The long ball snapped a four-game hitless stretch for Smith during which he had gone 0-for-14. Despite the big blast Monday, the 27-year-old is batting a paltry .104 over his past 14 contests. On the plus side, three of his five hits during that span have left the park.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out against lefty Smith isn't in the Diamondbacks' lineup Friday against the Red Sox.

Impact Smith will begin Friday's contest in the dugout while the Red Sox prepare to start the game with southpaw Chris Sale on the mound. In Smith's place, Evan Longoria will serve as the DH and bat fifth.

MAY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Tuesday Smith is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Phillies.

Impact Evan Longoria will take a turn at designated hitter and bat sixth versus the Phillies and left-hander Matt Strahm. Lourdes Gurriel, Dominic Fletcher and Corbin Carroll are starting across the outfield.

MAY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Belts solo homer in win Smith went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-3 win over Philadelphia.

Impact Smith's fifth-inning shot turned out to be the game-winning hit. It was the second straight game in which Smith batted leadoff, as it appears he'll be atop the order against righties. The home run, his fourth, was the second in the last three games after going 23 games without one.

MAY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

In leadoff spot again Smith is in the leadoff spot again for the Diamondbacks on Monday in Philadelphia.

Impact It's the second game in a row that Smith has hit leadoff, as it appears it will be the new setup for Arizona at least against right-handed pitching. Josh Rojas had been the team's regular leadoff man versus righties but will again be hitting sixth in this one.

MAY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bats leadoff Sunday Smith batted leadoff and went 1-for-5 with an RBI in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Pirates.

Impact This was the first time Smith hit leadoff for Arizona, which usually employs Josh Rojas atop the order against right-handers or Ketel Marte against lefties. It's unclear if this will a common practice going forward.

MAY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats go-ahead home run Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Pirates.

Impact Though Smith was retired by Mitch Keller in each of his first two plate appearances, Smith had the most important swing of the day, taking reliever Robert Stephenson yard for a two-run long shot that plated Lourdes Gurriel and gave the Diamondbacks a one-run advantage. The homer was Smith's first since April 19 (23 games) and just his third of the year. In his last six appearances, Smith has hit just 2-for-21 (.095) with six strikeouts.

MAY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting versus lefty Smith is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Marlins.

Impact Arizona will go with a right-heavy lineup with left-hander Jesus Luzardo on the mound for Miami. Lourdes Gurriel is in left field, Corbin Carroll is in center and Dominic Fletcher is in right. Emmanuel Rivera will serve as the designated hitter.

MAY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wins it with walk Smith walked off the Nationals with a pinch hit walk in the bottom of the ninth inning of Saturday's 8=7 win.

Impact He entered as a pinch hitter for Gabriel Moreno and walked in Christian Walker for the win. Smith, who initially found success upon his callup from Triple-A Reno, entered Saturday's contest with just one hit over his last 18 at-bats. He's still a lineup mainstay against righties, but a prolonged slump could change that.

MAY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits against southpaw Smith will be on the bench against lefty MacKenzie Gore and the Nationals on Saturday.

Impact Smith has shown more this season that he'd previously shown at the big-league level, slashing .260/.373/.440, though that comes in a small sample of 59 plate appearances. That's earned him an increasing role, as he's started against each of the last eight righties the Diamondbacks have faced, but he's been in the lineup just once against a southpaw this season.

MAY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat against Rangers Smith is not in the starting lineup against the Rangers on Wednesday.

Impact Smith will take a seat with southpaw Andrew Heaney on the mound for Texas on Wednesday. Emmanuel Rivera is hitting second and handling DH duties in Smith's absence.

MAY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup Friday Smith is out of the lineup Friday against the Rockies.

Impact Emmanuel Rivera is serving as Arizona's designated hitter and batting second with left-hander Kyle Freeland getting the start for Colorado. Smith boasts an overall .353/.463/.618 batting line on the season but has logged only five plate appearances against southpaws up to this point.

APRIL 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat against southpaw Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.

Impact Smith will join fellow lefty hitter Josh Rojas on the bench for the series finale as the Diamondbacks stock up on extra right-handed bats with southpaw Ryan Yarbrough on the bump for Kansas City. Evan Longoria will replace Smith as the Diamondbacks' designated hitter.

APRIL 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starts for Walker Smith started at first base in place of Christian Walker (forearm) and went 0-for-1 with two walks in Sunday's 7-5 loss to San Diego.

Impact Walker sustained a forearm injury when he was hit by a pitch in Saturday's game and given Sunday off. The X-rays on Walker's arm came back negative, so there's reason to believe this was a one-game decision, after he played 10 consecutive games. Smith, who has filled in well when called on since being called up from Triple-A Reno, would likely fill-in against Kansas City righty Brad Keller on Monday if Walker remains out.

APRIL 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE