The Arizona Diamondbacks will have Luke Weaver back in the bullpen Sunday for the first time since Opening Day.
The D-backs announced his reinstatement from the 60-day injured list ahead of their series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Arizona optioned reliever Edwin Uceta to Triple-A Reno after Saturday’s game and designated infielder Drew Ellis for assignment in corresponding roster moves.
Weaver threw 23 pitches in relief on April 7 and went on the 10-day injured list the following day with right elbow inflammation. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 8.
He pitched two rehab games for the Aces in Triple-A, including one start, ahead of reinstatement.
The 28-year-old threw four innings and allowed one run on three hits with three punch outs in his most recent start on Tuesday.
Weaver’s backstop in Reno on Tuesday was Carson Kelly, who was reinstated from the IL Saturday and is making his first start since May 4 on Sunday.
Luke Weaver was dialed in tonight. #RattleOn pic.twitter.com/rvk4AbLepG
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 24, 2019
Lefty Kyle Nelson is starting Sunday’s game for Arizona, a bullpen day for the D-backs. Weaver is an option to throw after Nelson as someone who could notch multiple innings.
The D-backs have four solidified spots in the rotation but not a fifth, as Humberto Castellanos is on the 15-day IL with a strained right elbow.
Weaver started 13 games and had a 4.25 ERA last season before manager Torey Lovullo moved him to the bullpen at the start of this season.
Weaver is in his fourth year with the D-backs after he was part of the package sent to Arizona from the St. Louis Cardinals for first baseman Paul Goldschmidt ahead of the 2019 campaign.
Uceta has thrown nine innings for Arizona this season and holds a 5.00 ERA in the majors. He heads back to Reno where he has a 4.24 ERA this year.
Ellis started at third base for the D-backs on Opening Day since Josh Rojas was injured with a strained oblique. Ellis, though, has spent most of the year in Reno.
Catch Sunday’s game between the D-backs and Phillies at 10:35 a.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
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