TEMPE, Ariz. -- One week into Spring Training games, the D-backs have two members of their projected Opening Day outfield on the sidelines.
A.J. Pollock underwent an MRI exam on his right elbow, while Yasmany Tomas had one on his left knee, D-backs manager Chip Hale announced before Thursday's game against the Angels.
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Hale said both MRIs did not show any damage, but neither player is expected to be back in the lineup until after next Tuesday's off-day.
"A.J. had his elbow MRI'd, and everything was good to go on that," Hale said. "He takes too many tees and flips in the cage and throws too much, and his right arm is getting fatigued. We're going to dial it back and let him build it back up, and try to keep away from any extra use of it."
Pollock was held out of the first few games of the Cactus League season with soreness in the elbow before playing in three games. His presence in the lineup is important for the D-backs. Last season, he was fourth in the National League among position players in Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
Tomas, meanwhile, was 0-for-5 in two Cactus League games, so he played in a "B" game on Sunday and went 3-for-7. The next day, he complained of soreness in his left knee, and he has not played since.
"Everything came out looking good," Hale said of Tomas' MRI exam. "No further problems with his knee. We'll let it cool down and take it slow. We're trying to get the swelling out of there."
If both players are back sometime next week, their readiness for Opening Day should not be affected.
"I told A.J., and I'll tell Tomas the same thing," Hale said. "The important thing is Opening Day and not rushing back to get in games right now. We can get him plenty of at-bats in Minor League games, just like we did with [Chris] Owings last year."
Because Minor League games are less structured than Major League spring games, the team can have a player lead off every inning if it wants as a way of getting him at-bats. Owings did that when coming back from left shoulder surgery.
The missed time during the spring could have more of an effect on Tomas because he is battling for the starting left-field job with Socrates Brito. In addition, Tomas is making the switch from right field to left, so he could use the reps.
"It doesn't let him get as many innings as we'd like him to get in the outfield," Hale said of Tomas. "But health is the main thing here. We need to make sure he's healthy. He's done a lot of hard work, and he looks good out there."