D-backs Preview #83: 7/1 vs. Giants

Roster move

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster move:

• Reinstated RHP J.B. Bukauskas (right elbow flexor strain) from the 10-day injured list.

This is to take the spot of Tim Locastro who, as you’ll know, was traded to the Yankees earlier today. This returns the active roster to an eight-man bullpen. The official listing has six outfielders, but those include Josh Rohas, Daulton Varsho and Pavin Smith, so your mileage may vary there. The others are David Peralta, Josh Reddick and Nick Heath, and it will be interesting to see how things shake down with regard to playing time in the post-Locastro era. An area of possible concern is that all six of those outfielders are left-handed bats. Indeed the only “pure” right-handed position hitters on the entire 40-man roster are Nick Ahmed, Christian Walker, Andrew Young, the injured Carson Kelly and Stuart Fairchild.

However, this left-handed skew has not translated into better output with the platoon advantage. Against right-handed pitching, the D-backs are only ranked 14th in the league by OPS, at .654. Meanwhile, they have hit left-handed pitching considerably better, with an OPS of .740, good for fifth in the league. With a right-handed starter on the mound tonight for the Giants, in Johnny Cueto, a plethora of lefties on the roster isn’t a bad thing. But we have seen Lovullo end up being a bit hamstrung in terms of playing match-ups against a left-hander.

Torey Lovullo notes

Keegan Curtis: A quality arm that’s coming into the system. We’re constantly trying to build our stable of good young arms. I think he fits right into the system.

Losing Timmy was not easy for all of us. He’s been a part of this organization and played some meaningful games and did some pretty amazing things while he was here for us. When you have to say goodbye to somebody you’ve grown close to it’s never easy.

But happy for the opportunity and that’s what I expressed to him today when I had the chance to talk to him. He’s going home. He’s going to play for a team that he grew up rooting for. I know that his family, without them even telling me were super excited. I know that because I know that his family is nothing but Yankee fans. So excited for him and this opportunity he’s going to go to a team that’s in a playoff race. It gets no better.

Health Updates:

• Ketel Marte: Hit in the cage today, resuming light baseball activity. He will take some live AB off of Tyler Clippard tomorrow. Clippard’s live AB’s will consist of 1 inning, 20 pitches
• Madison Bumgarner will throw a bullpen tomorrow and pitch in a game next Monday, location TBD but NOT MLB
• Taylor Widener will throw in a rehab game in Hillsboro on Saturday July 3rd
• Kole Calhoun is back in Phoenix,, he has inflammation in his surgically repaired hamstring and will be shut down for several days.
• Luke Weaver and Taylor Clarke are about 5-6 days into their throwing programs, throwing from 75-100 feet.

Torey Lovullo audio [or link]