DENVER -- D-backs shortstop Nick Ahmed's right hip is feeling better, but his availability over the next few days is questionable because his wife, Amanda, is expecting the couple's first child and is due to give birth at any moment.
Ahmed had a flight from Denver to Phoenix scheduled for Sunday afternoon just in case, so the D-backs elected to keep him out of the starting lineup.
After Amanda gives birth, Ahmed will likely spend three days on baseball's paternity list, which allows the D-backs to add a player during that time.
The D-backs have only one true shortstop on their 25-man roster in Jean Segura, and given their dearth of shortstops currently on the 40-man roster, they would likely call up an outfielder or a pitcher for those three days and rely on Phil Gosselin and Brandon Drury to back up Segura.
Ahmed said the hip is feeling better.
"It kind of bothered me more hitting," Ahmed said. "In the field, I felt pretty good. Running was OK. It's mainly hitting where it gives me some problems."
Worth noting
• Infielder/outfielder Chris Owings' rehab from plantar fasciitis in his left foot is going slower than expected.
"It's not where we thought he'd be because we had to take a step back because after taking ground balls, he had some soreness," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "We thought maybe when we got off the road [on Monday] he'd be available, but it's not going to be that way. We're going to have to have him go out and play some games."
• Outfielder David Peralta (lower back sprain) texted back and forth with Hale on Saturday.
"He says he's feeling better and better every day," Hale said, "but I don't think they've started baseball activities yet."