Reports are that Barrosa will be recalled to replace McCarthy. In other news, it was announced Jordan Lawlar was named to MLB’s Prospect Team of the Week.
Diamondbacks News
Diamondbacks option Jake McCarthy to Triple-A as slow start persists by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]
Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro posted on X (formerly Twitter) he expects outfielder Jorge Barrosa will be recalled to the major league club. The coinciding move has not yet been announced by the team.
Barrosa would provide flexibility as a switch-hitter and a terrific defender whether he’s in center or at a corner. The 24-year-old has played 21 games for the Aces this season and is batting .295 with an .857 OPS.
Diamondbacks Enter Series vs Rays with Mounting Bullpen Questions by Jack Sommers [SI] {Ed. Note: A week ago in this space, the bullpen was heralded as a strength of this team, with a SnakePit poll easily concluding it was the preeminent strength of the ball club. Life comes at you fast.}
Of greatest importance, the D-backs will be holding their breath until Justin Martinez can pitch again. He has yet to allow a run in eight games, seven innings pitched, while walking just one and striking out 10. But the arm fatigue issue that came up on Sunday is concerning, considering his workload since April 8th consists of just three games and 36 pitches thrown in a five day stretch from April 13-17.
Three Takeaways From Disappointing D-backs Series Loss vs. Cubs by Alex D’Agostino [SI]
Drey Jameson, J.P. Feyereisen and Juan Morillo all received the call, and each delivered when called upon in a major way. Feyereisen tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout, and Morillo delivered a pair of strikeouts (including one of Kyle Tucker) and touched 100 MPH in his first MLB inning without allowing a hit.
Lawlar leads Prospect Team of the Week [MLB]
Around the League
I Know What You Did Last Summer: When Ballplayers Make Babies by Davy Andrews [FanGraphs]
Well that’s fun. Nine months before Lukes and Varsho became fathers, it was July 16, 2024. That date may ring a bell, because it was also the date of the All-Star Game. Lukes wasn’t in the majors at the time, but clearly, both players had very productive All-Star breaks. I decided it was time for a full investigation. Do baseball players make all their babies during the All-Star break?
The null hypothesis was pretty simple. This could have been a coincidence, nothing more than a bit of statistical clustering. However, as soon as I started my research, the null hypothesis took a real hit. Alex Bregman went on the paternity list to welcome his own little alliterative Bregman baby (Bennett) into the world, quickly followed by Shohei Ohtani and Nick Lodolo. And the week before, Ryan Johnson, Sandy Alcantara, Jorge Polanco, and Devin Williams all went on the PL too. That’s quite a cluster.
Hunter’s on a heater! Brown increases league-best scoreless streak to 24 frames by Brian McTaggert [MLB]
The scoreless streak is the longest in the Major Leagues this year and the longest by an Astros pitcher since reliever Bryan Abreu had a 27 2/3-inning streak from July 18-Sept. 30, 2023. It’s the longest streak by an Astros starter since Cristian Javier’s 25 1/3-inning streak from Sept. 7-Oct. 1, 2022.
Braves Place Spencer Strider on IL with Hamstring Strain by Darragh MacDonald [MLB Trade Rumors]
Strider just came off the IL less than a week ago. He had spent just over a year recovering from UCL surgery. He made one start, tossing five innings against the Blue Jays. He was scheduled to take the ball again tomorrow against the Cardinals. According to David O’Brien of The Athletic and Mark Bowman of MLB.com, he just suffered the injury while playing catch within the past hour. He then told the club that he wouldn’t be able to make his start.
FanGraphs Power Rankings: April 14-20 by Jake Mailhot [FanGraphs] {Ed. Note: The Diamondbacks remain at 7th in this batch of power rankings. Only one AL team is ahead of them}
Padres’ Luis Arraez to concussion IL after scary collision [ESPN]
The three-time batting champion got hurt Sunday night in Houston when he collided with Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon on a frightening play at first base.
Arraez was put on a backboard and carted out of the stadium. He was taken to a hospital but returned to the ballpark following San Diego’s 3-2 victory.
Padres manager Mike Shildt said that Arraez was sore Monday, as expected, but that tests showed no structural damage.
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