Arizona Diamondbacks’ Marte feeling good after support from fans
Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte describes how he felt hearing support from fans after being harassed about his deceased mother by a person in the crowd.
First baseman Josh Naylor was not in the Diamondbacks’ lineup for Saturday, June 28, against the Marlins, still dealing with neck stiffness and spasms, manager Torey Lovullo said before the game.
Naylor left the previous day’s game prior to the seventh inning, replaced by Tim Tawa. When Naylor’s turn to bat came up in a critical situation in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Diamondbacks down by a run and two runners on base, Naylor and his .304 batting average and 53 runs batted in were not available.
“We’ll see how he feels and progresses through the course of the day, but I know he’s got that warrior mentality,” Lovullo said. “He wants to be out there as soon as possible.”
Pavin Smith got the start at first Saturday, with Randal Grichuk in the lineup at the designated hitter. Smith, Grichuk and Naylor have been the DH in games this season.
-José M. Romero
Diamondbacks make roster move with pitchers
Right-handed pitcher Tayler Scott, a veteran and Scottsdale Notre Dame product who signed with the Diamondbacks on May 31 to help an injury-riddled bullpen, was designated for assignment following the team’s 9-8 loss to the Marlins on June 27.
Scott allowed three runs on five hits in two innings in that game. He gave up a pair of home runs late in the game that would put the Diamondbacks in a four-run deficit going to the bottom of the ninth.
Scott allowed at least a run in four of his last five outings. The Diamondbacks called up right-handed pitcher John Curtiss from Triple A Reno to fill the open bullpen spot.
Curtiss’ first outing with the Diamondbacks will be his Arizona debut after all or parts of seven seasons in Major League Baseball with the Twins, Angels, Rays, Marlins, Brewers, Mets and Rockies.
“It’s a good story of perseverance,” Lovullo said of Curtiss.
-José M. Romero
Marlins at Diamondbacks, 1:10 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (8-5, 5.49) vs. Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (4-8, 6.69).
At Chase Field: Pfaadt pitched well for four innings before running into trouble in the fifth last weekend against the Rockies. He finished with four runs allowed in five innings, three of the runs coming on a RF Mickey Moniak homer. … Pfaadt’s season took a turn for the worse on May 31, when he was unable to retire any of the eight Washington Nationals batters he faced, all of whom scored. Pfaadt has not registered a quality start in any of the four starts that followed. Prior to May 31, he had six quality starts out of 11. … Alcantara won the Cy Young in 2022, throwing 228 2/3 innings with a 2.28 ERA. He wound up needing Tommy John surgery in October 2023, costing him all of last season. His return this year has not gone smoothly as he logged a 8.47 ERA in his first 11 starts. He has been better of late, however, with a 2.74 ERA over his past four outings. … The biggest difference looks to be his strike-throwing. He walked 29 batters in 51 innings over his first 11 starts. He has just five walks in 23 innings over the past four. … CF Alek Thomas is the only current Diamondbacks player to have homered off Alcantara. The blast came on May 11, 2022, and was the first of Thomas’ career.
Coming up
Sunday, June 29: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4, 5.40) vs. Marlins RHP Cal Quantrill (3-7, 5.56).
Monday, June 30: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (4-2, 3.71) vs. Giants RHP Logan Webb (7-5, 2.52).
Tuesday, July 1: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (5-9, 5.75) vs. Giants RHP Hayden Birdsong (3-2, 4.13).