Rotation tweaks may be in order this week

June 25th, 2017

PHOENIX -- After inserting into the rotation for a spot start Sunday in order to give their starters an extra day of rest, the D-backs could be in for some additional tweaking prior to next weekend's series with the Rockies.
As it stands right now, left-handers and Robbie Ray pitch back to back. Teams typically like to split their left-handers up so teams don't face them consecutively.
"[That's] something we were talking about yesterday," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "There is some concern. We will have an off-day after the Colorado games, so there's a chance that we juggle that a bit."
The D-backs are off Monday, July 3, after the three-game series vs. the Rockies, then they open a three-game set against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on July 4.
Plug and play
has helped fill in for injured left fielder , playing first, second and third base for Arizona.
Descalso is hitting .225 with five homers in 138 at-bats, but the numbers are secondary to what else he brings.

"I don't necessarily look at the results," Lovullo said. "I look at the type of at-bats he's having. I look at how engaged he is in all areas of the day, then I kind of move forward from there."
Descalso is one of those players that people say has "professional" at-bats. In other words, he makes a pitcher work.
To back that up with numbers, he sees an average of 4.01 pitches per plate appearance. While he doesn't have enough at-bats to qualify for the leaders in that category, if he did, he'd rank 23rd in the National League, just behind teammate , who sees 4.05 pitches per plate appearances.
Descalso also has become a leader in the Arizona clubhouse.
"That's why he's a manager's dream -- he's always in the right place at the right time, saying the right things to his teammates," Lovullo said.