The Arizona Diamondbacks enter play today with a 61-52 record and are tied with the San Diego Padres for second place in the National League West five games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are currently sitting in the fifth (second wild card) playoff spot in a three-way tie with the Atlanta Braves, and the Padres. The Braves hold the first wild card with one less game played than both National League West teams. Arizona took game one of the series against the Cleveland Guardians last night and will look to win game two of the three-game series tonight. Before the game today with the Guardians the Diamondbacks announced five roster moves including activating tonight’s starting pitcher!
C – Gabriel Moreno
The Diamondbacks have placed Moreno on the 10-day injured list today with a Left adductor strain. Unfortunate news for the Dbacks as Moreno has had a decent year so far. He has played in 86 games with 36 runs scored, 17 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 41 RBIs, 34 walks, 45 strikeouts, and three stolen bases. So far this year he has slashed, .262/.344/.385 with a .729 OPS in 86 games.
LHP – Eduardo Rodriguez
The Diamondbacks have activated Rodriguez from the 60-day injured list to make his first start this season. Rodriguez yet to pitch in a regular season game for his new team, has been activated, and will get the start tonight against the Cleveland Guardians. The other day, he had a successful simulated game and will be under a pitch count tonight. Regardless, pitch count or not if Rodriguez can come back and look like he did last year the Diamondbacks will be sitting pretty down the stretch.
RHP – Bryce Jarvis
The Diamondbacks have transferred Jarvis from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list today. Jarvis has pitched in 44 games from the bullpen this year for Arizona. He has one win, two losses on the season, and a 3.19 ERA. Over 59.1 innings he has allowed 21 earned runs, 33 walks, struck out 38, a 1.43 WHIP, and recorded four holds.
RHP – Humberto Castellanos
The Diamondbacks have optioned Castellanos to the Reno Aces in Triple-A. He has appeared in seven games for Arizona this year without factoring into a decision. He has a 5.23 ERA, one save, and one hold on the year. He has only pitched 10.1 innings allowing six earned runs, four walks, and struck out seven.
C – Adrian Del Castillo
Castillo had his contract selected by the Diamondbacks today from the Reno Aces. The 24-year-old has played in 100 games this year in Triple-A. He has 86 runs scored, 36 doubles, three triples, 24 home runs, 70 RBIs, 52 walks, and 76 strikeouts. The young backstop has slashed .319/.403/.608 with a 1.011 OPS this season in Triple-A
Overview
With the Diamondbacks battling in the right wild card race in the National League, the season debut for Rodriguez couldn’t come at a better time for a team trying to make a late surge with the hopes of repeating last year’s unthinkable run. While losing Moreno hurts, I am very interested to see how Castillo handles big-league pitching as he has had a very productive season in Triple-A at the plate. A series win over the American League Central Guardians would be a good start to making a push to secure their hold on one of these three wild card spots. Generating some distance is the goal, but the way things have been going this could be a battle that continues for the next two months. The next two months will be fun to watch as a Diamondback fan!!
