WASHINGTON -- To make room for right-hander Braden Shipley on the 25-man roster, the D-backs optioned outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.
Though Hazelbaker had shown to be a quality bench bat early in the season, the 29-year-old's spot on the roster was in jeopardy after Arizona needed to find a starter to take replace Shelby Miller, who suffered a season-ending elbow injury on April 23.
"It was a tough situation to walk through as a group," manager Torey Lovullo said Thursday. "It was a collective thought that we had enough coverage in the outfield.
"[Hazelbaker] played well, did exactly what we wanted him to do, but sometimes this game can be unfair."
Hazelbaker, who appeared in 21 games, hit .308 with one home run and five RBIs in 26 at-bats.
Worth noting
• The D-backs announced Wednesday that Miller is set to undergo Tommy John surgery next Wednesday. The procedure will be done by Los Angeles-based orthopedist Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
• David Peralta is still battling a flu that has kept him out of the lineup for the entire series against the Nationals. The 29-year-old outfielder worked out pregame at Nationals Park on Thursday with hopes of rejoining the lineup when the D-backs travel to Coors Field to take on the Rockies beginning Friday.