Pollock back in lineup Friday, Collmenter could be headed to DL
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- It looks like A.J. Pollock will be in the lineup when the Diamondbacks open the regular season.
Pollock, who has been out since March 8 with a sore right elbow, will be in the lineup Friday night in an exhibition game against the Royals at Chase Field, manager Chip Hale said.
Earlier this week, Pollock said he would be ready for the season opener on Monday against the Rockies. But by playing him this weekend the D-backs believe so as well.
If he wasn't ready, the team could backdate a disabled list stint. But not after he plays against the Royals.
Pollock played in minor league and intra-squad games the past week, including facing Zack Greinke and Archie Bradley. Pollock had just eight at-bats in Cactus League games but Hale said he will have between 25 and 30 when minor league games and the final two exhibitions are factored in.
Hale also said the staff will monitor Pollock's workload during the season, including the work he puts in before games, to keep the soreness from returning.
"The swinging and the throwing is not a problem. It's the overdoing of it that we have to watch out for," Hale said.
While Pollock should be ready for the season, it looks more and more like reliever Josh Collmenter will not. Collmenter is unlikely to pitch this weekend after he developed tightness in his shoulder in his last appearance on Sunday.
"That's why the DL issue is more of a possibility," Hale said. "I don't think it is a thing that would keep him out more than the 15 days."
A final determination if a trip to the DL is necessary has not been made, Hale said. If so, it opens a spot for another reliever -- Evan Marshall, Enrique Burgos, Jake Barrett or Silvino Bracho.
