The D-Backs shook up a few things before their series with the Dodgers. Arizona returned the catcher Gabriel Moreno on the 10-day injured list and designated backup Tucker Barnhart by share. (Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reported those moves over the weekend.) The Snakes set the stage Jordan Montgomery on the 15-day disabled list, which resumed on June 29, because of right knee inflammation. Arizona also selected a young player Blaze Alexander at Triple-A Reno. A middle player Alex Thomas is back from the 10-day IL, while the D-Backs are recovering well Gavin Hollowell to take a place in the barn.
Montgomery had a great season. The veteran southpaw agreed to a $25MM cushion contract just before Opening Day. As another late signer Blake Snell, has had significant struggles in that condensed form. Montgomery agreed to head to Reno to start a few games. He was called up in mid-April but found nothing close to his usual form.
Over 13 starts, Montgomery owns a 6.03 ERA in 65 2/3 innings. He struck out a below-average 15.1% of opposing batters. Montgomery has struck out over 21% of the batters he has faced over the past three seasons. He allowed fewer than four earned runs in nine each year while compiling a 3.48 ERA over 94 starts. The average velocity in his sinker dropped from a typical range of 93 MPH to 91.7 MPH.
It's impossible to know how much of Montgomery's struggles stemmed from an unusual start to the season. It seems fair to assume that it played a role. Whatever the root cause, Montgomery hasn't provided anything close to the type of production Arizona envisions. The ID-Backs hope he will replace the middle replacement after that Eduardo Rodriguez suffered Spring Training lat type. Instead, he has arguably been the weakest point in a starting lineup that remains the team's biggest question mark.
Arizona was recently adopted Zac Gallen back on the injured list. Still without Rodriguez again Merrill Kelly. That's right Brandon Pfaadt was solid, but the D-Backs didn't get much Slade Cecconi again Ryne Nelson. They will need to find a fifth starter this week, as Arizona does not have another day off until the All-Star Break. That might be right Cristian Mena. Alex Weiner of AZ Sports tweets that Mena is on the big league team in Los Angeles, though he hasn't been listed. Acquired from the White Sox of Dominic Fletcher this winter, the 21-year-old Mena has a 4.90 ERA with a 24.4% strikeout rate in 16 Triple-A starts. Joe Mantiply will start the bullpen tonight; Montgomery was expected to start tomorrow's tournament.
On the home fielder side, Moreno and Thomas return to the lineup. The first one had a small IL accommodation with a thumb sprain. He will return to his role as the main catcher. Barnhart's DFA means the D-Backs will stick around José Herrera in the #2 holding role. Thomas missed most of the season with a strained hamstring. He only played four games before going down. That pushed Corbin Carroll in the middle. Carroll should move back to right field, which could lead to playing time Jake McCarthy again Randal Grichuk.
It pushes Alexander off the MLB roster for now. The 25-year-old has had a good run of form in a short period of time Geraldo Perdomo it was on the shelf. When Perdomo returned, manager Torey Lovullo suggested getting Alexander more playing time at third base while cutting. This is Eugenio Suárez's place workload. Alexander got a regular run for about two weeks but slumped, hitting .138 with no extra-base hits in 33 plate appearances. Suárez has started five of the last six games at the hot corner. With Kevin Newman plays well as an undrafted relief option, the D-Backs send Alexander back to Reno for consistent playing time.
Source link
