Snake Bytes, 6/16: No brooms for you

The D-backs couldn’t quite complete another sweep

Recap

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks fall short of series sweep of Padres ahead of road trip – On the 10th pitch of the at-bat, Kelly went back to his change-up, one that dipped below the strike zone. Cronenworth was all over it, launching it out to right field. The sequence seemed to encapsulate the day for both Kelly and the Diamondbacks. They did not play poorly in their 8-2 loss to the Padres. They were just beaten. These things happen. Certainly, it is easier to reach those sorts of conclusions when the loss snaps a five-game winning streak, as this one did. The Diamondbacks had to settle for a series victory — not a sweep — against one of their division rivals, and for a 5-1 homestand rather than a 6-0 run.

Team news

[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen maintains he will look to add if in position to do so – Hazen told MLB Network Radio on Sunday that as long as the Diamondbacks are playing well and he sees “gas in the tank,” he is going to look to add, not subtract. His squad won five straight games entering Sunday to jump back into striking distance of a playoff spot as the halfway point nears. “It’s hard for me to watch how hard these guys are grinding every day and then take the trap door and rip it out from underneath them, honestly,” Hazen said. “We do these jobs to take shots and win.”

[USA Today] Cal Raleigh smashes records. His biggest fan? The GOAT backstop – But below all that… “The Arizona Diamondbacks, who could be the epicenter of the trade deadline, are getting swarmed with calls from rival GMs with hopes they can land the piece to get them into October. The D-backs have starters Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, power-hitting third baseman Eugenio Suarez and first baseman Josh Naylor, along with relievers Shelby Miller and Jalen Beeks, all pending free agents who could be available. The Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants are keeping a close eye on those power hitters, while virtually every contender is looking at their pitching. One little problem. The D-backs (35-34) still are contenders. As long as the D-backs still have a legitimate shot, they are making it clear they are not interested in breaking up the band.”

[SI] Anthony DeSclafani to Join D-backs’ Beleaguered Bullpen – DeSclafani has introduced three new pitches to his arsenal. Those three pitches are a split-change, a sweeper, and a gyro slider. Based on movement profiles, those three pitches might be classified as a changeup, knucklecurve, and slider on his Statcast pitching data in his time in Triple-A this season. The key reason behind the change is to be more successful at putting away hitters in two-strike counts. In his major league career, he’s converted 19.3% of two-strike pitches into strikeouts. With Scranton Wilkes-Barre, he was at 23.3% (20 of 86).

[Last Word in Sports] Ketel Marte Becoming a Franchise Player for Diamondbacks – Ketel Marte is a D-Backs mainstay, and his ability to mentor younger players shows his leadership. Always known for his confident and optimistic presence, he boosts and energizes his teammates. Even Manager Torey Lovullo has commented that Marte will likely be the best player he has ever managed. Marte’s future is bright, especially with his new deal. The Diamondbacks wanted to build around their core group, and keeping him was key. With his ninth season in the desert, he is now the longest-tenured player in franchise history. In addition, Marte is now one of four Diamondbacks players to reach 150 career home runs. He is a great player and teammate. He’s also a fan favorite. As he continues to flourish, he will become one of the greatest players in Arizona Diamondbacks history.

[Dbacks.com] Lovullo’s son ‘ejects’ High-A umpire in ultimate Father’s Day tribute – The D-backs’ skipper got a call from his son Nick a bit earlier than expected Sunday. He had already gotten a “Happy Father’s Day” text in the morning, but a full-blown call seemed odd, considering he was supposed to be managing the High-A South Bend Cubs during their matinee game in Fort Wayne, Ind. “He said, ‘Dad, happy Father’s Day, I have a great Father’s Day present for you,’” Torey Lovullo said of his conversation with Nick. “I’m like, ‘What do you got, man?’ … He’s like, ‘I got thrown out of the game for you.’”

And, elsewhere…

[MLB] Devers heads to Giants in blockbuster trade – In a shocking blockbuster over a month before the July 31 Trade Deadline, the Giants acquired star slugger Rafael Devers from the Red Sox in exchange for Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, Jose Bello and last year’s first-year Draft pick (13th overall) pick James Tibbs III. With star third baseman Matt Chapman expected to miss several weeks with a right hand injury, the Giants felt the need to take bold action to bolster their offense, which has had some trouble supporting the club’s excellent pitching staff this year. A three-time All-Star, Devers primarily served as Boston’s designated hitter this season, but he’s a natural third baseman who could help cover the hot corner while Chapman is out.

[ESPN] Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani to return to pitching Monday vs. Padres – Shohei Ohtani will make his long-awaited return to pitching Monday night, while serving as an opener in a matchup against the division-rival San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced. Ohtani, 21 months removed from a second repair of his ulnar collateral ligament, is expected to only throw one inning, perhaps two, in what will basically amount to a continuation of his rehab. Because of his two-way designation, Ohtani qualifies as an extra pitcher on the roster, giving the Dodgers the flexibility to use a piggyback starter behind him. Those simulated games also wound up being more taxing on his body, requiring Ohtani to cool off, then ramp back up to serve as the Dodgers’ designated hitter. Pitching and hitting simultaneously was ultimately seen as easier for his body to absorb.

[Arizona Desert Swarm] 8th inning collapse ends Arizona’s season in elimination loss to Louisville – Arizona’s pitching and defense fell apart equally in the bottom of the 8th inning on Sunday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field Omaha, allowing Louisville to score six runs for an 8-3 victory. The loss eliminates the Wildcats (44-21) from the College World Series after two games and runs their CWS losing streak to six dating back to 2016. “Obviously it’s not the way you want it to end,” said UA coach Chip Hale, whose team lost for the first time this season when taking a lead into the 8th or later. “Really the only way you want it to end is to be the champion. But it doesn’t mean we didn’t have a great season.”