Rotation tweaks may be in order this week
PHOENIX -- After inserting Randall Delgado 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 Patrick Corbin 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
Daniel Descalso has helped fill in for injured left fielder Yasmany Tomas, 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 Paul Goldschmidt, 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.