
The first of two chances to win a series on the road, as Kole Calhoun returns.
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves:
- Reinstate OF Kole Calhoun (strained left hamstring) from the 60-day injured list.
- Designate OF Nick Heath for assignment.
- Recall INF/OF Andrew Young from Triple-A Reno.
- Place INF Asdrúbal Cabrera (right hamstring strain) on the 10-day injured list.
- Following last night’s game, optioned RHP Taylor Widener to Triple-A Reno.
The last might come as a bit of a surprise, but with the All-Star break coming up, he won’t be needed for a while. The roster spot can be used elsewhere until Widener is required to start, which might not be until July 20. The loss of Cabrera is unfortunate – who knew that hamstring strains were so infectious? I wasn’t aware of there having been any particular issue, but to be honest, I only saw the ninth inning last night, so couldn’t tell you if anything happened to Cabrera before that. He had managed to avoid the 2021 injury bug to this point, and this leaves, I think maybe only Eduardo Escobar and Pavin Smith as ever-presents among position players from the Opening Day roster. Oh, and Stephen Vogt.
Having got the series monkey off their backs against Colorado, can the D-backs now follow up by winning a series on the road? To find the last time they managed that, you need to go all the way back to April. The 25th, to be specific, and that double-header shutout of the Braves in Atlanta. If Arizona don’t manage it this series they will be virtually a lock to go at least three months without a road series victory. They open the second half of the season at Chase Field, with series against the Cubs and Pirates, before going to Chicago for a set versus the Cubs, from July 23-25.
It will not be easy. Walker Buehler has beaten Arizona in both their meetings so far this year, allowing two runs over 14.1 innings, with 18 strikeouts. Perhaps we can learn from Miami. Last time out, Buehler worked less than six innings for the first time in seventeen starts this season. Put another way Buehler has recorded any out in the 7th inning on eight occasions this year. The entire Diamondbacks’ pitching staff have ten. In one of those awkward coincidences, both Jack and I will not be around for Torey Lovullo’s media chat today. Ok, it’s not actually a coincidence. But you’ll have to go without today. Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.