Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Burned second time through order
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Cecconi (1-3) was charged with Tuesday's loss to the Reds. He allowed six runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three over 5.2 innings.
Cecconi has been dynamite the first time through orders, when opponents are hitting .029 with a .084 OPS, but things go sideways after that. The second time through, Cecconi is allowing a .355 average and 1.283 OPS. He told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that Tuesday's outing brought the struggles into focus: "It's a mental thing," the right-hander said. Cecconi said when he starts to get hit, he focuses on locating the ball, which takes velocity off whichever type of pitch he's trying to execute. He vowed to use Tuesday as a lesson that he can take into his next start Monday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Perdomo (knee) has started to take live at-bats, hit in the cages and field ground balls, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Perdomo, who's putting in five-to-seven hours per day while rehabbing at Salt River Fields, expressed optimism that he'll return by the end of the month. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo is not ready to put a timeline on the shortstop's return, but acknowledged Perdomo looks good executing the work he's currently doing. Next up, per the manager, is getting spikes on Perdomo's feet and having him run, cut, make turns and the agility to start and stop.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Knocks in two in loss
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Alexander started at second base and went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Reds.
Alexander filled in for a resting Ketel Marte and plated both Arizona runs with a two-out single in the third inning. Those were his first RBI in 13 contests. His playing time has been spotty, as the Diamondbacks are intent on Kevin Newman as the primary shortstop while Geraldo Perdomo (knee) works his way back.
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Not in Tuesday's lineup
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Moreno is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Reds.
Moreno finally clubbed his first home run of the season in Monday's win over Cincinnati, but he'll get a breather a day later. Tucker Barnhart will do the catching for Slade Cecconi.
Marte is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.
Marte returned to second base for the last two games after spending two contests at designated hitter due to general body soreness. It would appear that him being absent from Tuesday's lineup is just a routine day off. Blaze Alexander is getting a start at second base and will bat second for the Diamondbacks.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Two straight blown saves
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Ginkel allowed two runs on two hits and a walk over one inning, picking up a blown save in Monday's 6-5 win over Cincinnati.
Ginkel failed to hold an eighth-inning lead for a second consecutive appearance. He's allowed runs in three of the last four outings, all since he slid back from closer to a setup role.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Newman: Plays hero Monday
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Newman went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI in Monday's 6-5 win over the Reds.
Newman ended the night with a walk-off, two-run single off Cincinnati closer Alexis Diaz, who had hit a batter and walked two before the shortstop played hero. It was the third consecutive game with multiple hits for Newman, who is 8-for-12 with four doubles, a triple, two RBI and four runs scored during that stretch. He's added 74 points to his batting average -- from .179 to .253 -- due to this outburst and is more in line with his career mark of .259. He had become the team's primary shortstop, because his glove was more reliable than rookie Blaze Alexander. Newman should continue to serve that role until Geraldo Perdomo (knee) is ready, which is expected to be at some point in June.
Walker went 1-for-4 with a walk, one stolen base and two runs scored in Monday's 6-5 win over the Reds.
The steal was Walker's first of the year, which is a bit of a surprise since he stole 11 bases last season. He was caught stealing on his first two attempts in 2024. The first baseman has struggled in May, going 8-for-38 (.211) over 11 contests this month. He's still slashing a decent .265/.377/.437 with seven home runs, 27 RBI, 29 runs scored and five doubles over 42 contests overall.
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Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Homer, three walks in win
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Moreno went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, three walks and two total runs scored in Monday's 6-5 win over the Reds.
The homer was Moreno's first of the year, and this was the second game of the season in which he had multiple walks. He's gotten off to a slow start with the bat, hitting .248 through 33 contests, but he's made up for it with a 12.8 percent walk rate, easily the best of his career. Moreno has added 16 RBI, 12 runs scored, six doubles and a triple through 117 plate appearances while serving as Arizona's primary catcher.
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Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson: Goes yard in win
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Pederson went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-5 win over the Reds.
Pederson has gone 11-for-35 (.314) with three homers and a 2:14 BB:K over 11 games in May. The slugger is up to five homers, nine RBI, 16 runs scored and a .298/.414/.543 slash line through 117 plate appearances in a strong-side platoon role at designated hitter. The 32-year-old has started the year well, but his strict platoon role likely means his 30-homer campaigns of yesteryear are unlikely to return.
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Diamondbacks' Jordan Montgomery: Strikes out seven in no-decision
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Montgomery allowed three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out seven over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Reds on Monday.
Montgomery turned in an okay outing, missing out on a quality start for the second time in five games for the Diamondbacks. He's pitched to a 4.76 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB over 28.1 innings this season. Montgomery's had a bit of trouble racking up strikeouts so far as he's had to get up to speed on the job after signing with Arizona in late March. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Tigers.
Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas: Receives injection for hamstring
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Thomas received a platelet-rich plasma injection for his left hamstring, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Thomas was expected to return from the 10-day injured list week after making three minor-league rehab appearances, but he suffered a setback in his recovery from the strained left hamstring and was sent in for an MRI. After receiving multiple medical opinions on the MRI, Thomas was recommended for the PRP injection to address the swelling in the lower part of his hamstring. He'll likely rest for the next several days while he waits for the shot to take full effect before he resumes baseball activities.
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Diamondbacks' Jake McCarthy: Not starting Monday
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McCarthy is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.
The lefty-hitting McCarthy will sit in the series opener Monday, despite Cincinnati bringing a right-hander in Graham Ashcraft to the hill. Pavin Smith will step in as the starting right field in place of McCarthy, who hit his first home run of the season in Sunday's 9-2 win over the Orioles.
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Diamondbacks' Nate Savino: Rehabbing in ACL
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Savino (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with the Diamondbacks' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate May 4 and has struck out six over 4.1 scoreless innings while allowing one hit and three walks through his first three appearances.
Savino remains on Single-A Visalia's 7-day injured list and is expected to join the Diamondbacks' California League affiliate once he completes his assignment in the ACL. Since being drafted in 2022, the 22-year-old lefty has yet to make his debut in full-season ball after undergoing surgery in 2023.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Two RBI in win
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Grichuk went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI in Sunday's 9-2 win over the Orioles.
Grichuk entered as a pinch hitter for designated hitter Joc Pederson and doubled in two runs, upping the Diamondbacks lead to 9-1. He finished out the game at DH. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo has rigidly stuck to having Pederson mostly face right-handers -- just five plate appearances against lefties -- so when southpaw reliever Cionel Perez entered the game, Grichuk got the opportunity with runners in scoring position. As a pinch hitter in 2024, Grichuk is 5-for-7 with a walk, three doubles and three RBI.
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Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte: Back in field
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Marte started at second base and went 1-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 9-2 win over Baltimore.
Marte was back playing the field after serving as the designated hitter Friday and Saturday due to general body stiffness. He produced a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning then plated two more an inning later with a bases-loaded single. The single extended a hit streak to 13 games, which features one game with multiple hits (14-for-54, .259). What the streak lacks in average is made up for by slugging. Nine of Marte's 14 hits have gone for extra bases (four doubles, one triple, four home runs), and he's knocked in 10 runs.
