Darvish expected to start as Padres host the Diamondbacks
The Padres will roll out Yu Darvish to the mound Saturday and the Diamondbacks plan to give Taylor Widener the startAUGUST 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Darvish expected to start as Padres host the Diamondbacks
The Padres will roll out Yu Darvish to the mound Saturday and the Diamondbacks plan to give Taylor Widener the startAUGUST 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ahmed, D-backs rally for 6 runs in 4th to stun Padres 8-5
Nick Ahmed’s two-run single capped a six-run fourth inning for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who rallied from a 5-0 deficit to stun the San Diego Padres 8-5AUGUST 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Escapes with no-decision Widener allowed five runs on five hits and three walks while walking seven over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against the Giants on Monday.
Impact Widener was good for a couple of innings before the Giants got to him the second and third times through the order, a pattern that has emerged this season. After a good start against the Dodgers coming off the injured list, the right-hander has allowed five runs in each of the next three starts while pitching fewer than five innings. The Diamondbacks may eventually move him to the bullpen, but the organization with the worst record in MLB has nothing to lose over the final two months. From that perspective, they may try to fix Widener and see if he can be a passable starter. He's next due to pitch Saturday on the road at San Diego.
AUGUST 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Giants go extras to win 11-8 after Diamondbacks rally
Buster Posey doubled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning Monday night and the San Francisco Giants escaped with an 11-8 victory over the Arizona DiamondbacksAUGUST 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Widener scheduled to start as Arizona hosts San Francisco
The Diamondbacks will send Taylor Widener to the mound Monday and the Giants plan to give Anthony DeSclafani the startAUGUST 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Betts returns with HR, Dodgers pound Diamondbacks 13-0
Albert Pujols doubled home three runs to cap a five-run second inning, Mookie Betts homered in his return from the injured list and the Los Angeles Dodgers hammered the Arizona Dia...AUGUST 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lyles expected to start as Rangers host the Diamondbacks
The Rangers will roll out Jordan Lyles to the mound Wednesday and the Diamondbacks plan to give Madison Bumgarner the startJULY 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Allows five in loss Widener (1-1) allowed five earned runs on five hits and five walks with three strikeouts over 3.2 innings, taking the loss in Tuesday's 5-4 defeat to the Rangers.
Impact Widener was surviving against Texas until he hit a wall in the fourth inning. The South Carolina product allowed five runs in the frame, including a three-run homer to Joey Gallo that chased him from the game. Widener needed 87 pitches to get through just 3.2 innings, and the five free passes he issued are a career-high. The right-hander has failed to make it through the fifth inning in his last four starts.
JULY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Gallo's bat, arm help Rangers edge D-backs 5-4 to end skid
Joey Gallo went deep for the first time since the All-Star break with a towering three-run home run that put the Texas Rangers ahead in a 5-4 win over the Arizona DiamondbacksJULY 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Widener scheduled to start for Diamondbacks at Rangers
The Diamondbacks will start Taylor Widener on Tuesday while the Rangers are expected to counter with Dane DunningJULY 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Remains in rotation this week Widener is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday against the Rangers in Arlington.
Impact Summoned from Triple-A Reno on July 20 when the Diamondbacks required a fifth starter for the first time since the All-Star break, Widener lasted just 4.2 innings against a hapless Pirates squad, giving up five runs on eight hits and one walk. On a positive note, he struck out a season-high eight batters in the outing, and he still maintains a solid 3.55 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across seven starts with the big club on the campaign. Arizona isn't exactly overflowing with appealing alternatives for the rotation, so Widener should have some longevity as the team's fourth or fifth starter.
JULY 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Bryant, Rizzo, Bote homer as Cubs beat Diamondbacks 5-1
Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and David Bote homered, Trevor Williams pitched effectively into the seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1JULY 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Blasted for five runs Tuesday Widener pitched 4.2 innings against Pittsburgh on Tuesday, allowing five runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out eight. He did not factor in the decision.
Impact The right-hander's strikeout total was a season high, but he was hurt by a pair of two-run home runs and gave up eight hits overall. Widener yielded five runs for the first time this season and saw his ERA rise by over a run to 3.55 as a result. Despite the disappointing outing, he is likely to stick in the rotation given his overall results on the campaign. His next start is tentatively lined up to take place at Texas early next week.
JULY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
D'backs win 3rd straight, score 8 in 7th to top Pirates 11-6
The Arizona Diamondbacks have their first three-game winning streak since late AprilJULY 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Officially recalled ahead of start Widener was officially recalled from Triple-A Reno ahead of his Tuesday start against the Pirates, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.
Impact Manager Torey Lovullo announced earlier Tuesday that Widener would be the starter for the second game of the three-game set, and now the club has made room for him on the 26-man roster by optioning Alex Young to Reno. Widener will take an impressive 2.54 ERA into the outing.
JULY 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Rejoining rotation Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Widener will be recalled from Triple-A Reno to start Tuesday's game against the Pirates, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.
Impact After being reinstated from the injured list July 9, Widener stepped into the rotation and was effective while pitching with a restricted workload. He covered 4.1 innings in the outing, giving up one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five en route to taking a no-decision against the Dodgers. Though he was optioned to Triple-A following the outing, the transaction was merely for roster-management purposes, as Widener wasn't scheduled to pitch again prior to the All-Star break. Widener will now rejoin the rotation with the Diamondbacks requiring a fifth starter Tuesday for the first time in the second half.
JULY 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Smith, Escobar lead Diamondbacks over Pirates 4-2
Caleb Smith pitched 6 2/3 stellar innings, Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run homer for the second straight game and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2JULY 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Optioned to Triple-A Widener was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Friday.
Impact Widener returned from a groin injury Friday and pitched well in 4.1 innings against the Dodgers, allowing just a single run. His reward is a trip to the minors, though he wouldn't have been able to pitch again until after the All-Star break, so it makes sense that he'd be the one demoted to clear a space from Kole Calhoun to return from his hamstring injury.
JULY 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Stymies Dodgers in return Widener got a no-decision in Friday's 5-2 win over the Dodgers, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
Impact Making his first start since May 23, Widener was tagged for an A.J. Pollock solo home run in the third but held Los Angeles scoreless otherwise. The 26-year-old was bailed out after exiting with two on and one out in the fifth but reliever Brett de Geus induced consecutive outs to neutralize the threat. Widener now owns a 2.54 ERA in 28.1 innings.
JULY 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Starting Friday in return from IL Widener (groin) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday. Per Zach Buchanan of The Athletic, he will start Friday's game against the Dodgers.
Impact Widener has been out since suffering a right groin strain in late May. He pitched in two rehab games, most recently logging four innings for High-A Hillsboro on July 3. With that in mind, he could be on some sort of pitch count Friday and will have to be efficient to potentially qualify for his second win.
JULY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Arizona Diamondbacks to visit the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Diamondbacks will start Taylor Widener on Friday while the Dodgers have yet to decide who will get the startJULY 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nunez, Rockies avoid sweep, beat D-Backs for rare road win
Light-hitting Dom Nunez doubled twice and singled as the Colorado Rockies avoided a three-game sweep by the team with the worst record in the majors, beating the Arizona Diamondbac...JULY 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Faria scheduled to start as Arizona hosts Colorado
The Diamondbacks will roll out Jake Faria to the mound Thursday and the Rockies will give Chi Chi Gonzalez the startJULY 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Needs more before return Widener (groin) will need to throw well in a rehab start before returning to the majors, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.
Impact Arizona manager Torey Lovullo was mum on the next step for Widener, but he did believe it was necessary for the right-hander to get a well-pitched game under his belt. This, despite downplaying the results in Widener's first two rehab starts, in which he's given up nine runs over 6.2 innings. This news suggests a return after the All-Star break.
JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
