ARLINGTON -- It’s the time of the year when the focus is on the Trade Deadline. Contenders are looking to shore up their roster for the final third of the season. Non-contenders are looking to build for the future. Teams in between are trying to decide which one they will do.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo admitted that the approaching July 31 Trade Deadline is a distraction.

“I haven’t seen it [players nervous about the Deadline]. I’ve been trying to pay close attention to that. That’s my job to make sure that they go out and perform to play today. That’s what our focus is. The game’s hard enough.

“It’s always a very exciting time in baseball. We know that certain teams are going to be transitioning in different directions. Some are going to be buyers. Some are going to be sellers. I don’t know what’s going to happen to this organization. But I know today we’re going to give our best effort, and that’s what I want these guys to focus on. Wherever it takes us -- good or bad -- we’re going to make the adjustment because we trust what’s going on here with the front office. But it’s always an awkward time. No doubt.”

Trades sizzle with excitement for fans, but often teams have internal options that are just as impactful. For Arizona, the pitching, in particular, is looking better. Alex Young won his third game Tuesday night. He’s made three starts and one relief appearance, has an 0.96 ERA and has allowed just six hits total.

After Tuesday’s game, Lovullo would not commit to Young being a fixture in the starting rotation. He did assure that Young has earned another start.

Taylor Clarke is expected to be activated from the injured list to start Friday’s game against Milwaukee. Clarke came out of his last start July 2 against the Dodgers after just 3 2/3 innings and was placed on the injured list the following day with lower back inflammation. He made a rehab start on Saturday for Class A Advanced Visalia, throwing six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out three batters on 70 pitches.

Most teams are looking for pitching help in late July. The D-backs may add two solid starters to their rotation without trading a prospect.

On the position player front, David Peralta resumed baseball activities Monday. There’s still no timetable. “We’re not going to fast-forward anything,” Lovullo told reporters. “We’re committed to making sure he’s 100 percent when he gets back.”

Wilmer Flores is expected to be assessed Wednesday after playing back-to-back games on rehab. He had 10 at-bats the past two nights, and might be activated as early as Thursday against the Brewers.

Blake Swihart is scheduled to begin a Minor League rehab assignment Wednesday in Visalia. Lovullo said he would play the corner-outfield positions, and some third base. Lovullo hasn’t given Swihart a target number of at-bats to be ready. He’s more interested initially in having Swihart getting into the routine of playing baseball.

It's hot

There is no question, the heat in the Dallas-Fort Worth area has been something to deal with during this series. Temperatures have been in the mid to upper 90s (F), but with the unusually high humidity, the heat index has reached triple digits. Lovullo brought up the heat both before and after Tuesday’s game. For the pregame workouts both days, he had the players alternate on-the-field activities with intermittent trips to the clubhouse to keep cool.

Lovullo said after Tuesday’s game that the heat was a factor in removing Young from the game after throwing just 70 pitches.

For a few players, though, the heat proved to be no detriment to playing golf, as a few foursomes played the Cottonwood Valley golf course in the city of Irving on Monday’s off-day.