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Deadline direction coming into focus as Diamondbacks win again
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- Deadline direction coming into focus as Diamondbacks win again
WASHINGTON — Tim Tawa's bunt trickled down the first-base line, unplayable, so good it was as if he had rolled it with his bare hands. Gabriel Moreno drove a fly ball to left field, delivering just the kind of at-bat the situation warranted. And in the end, Paul Sewald pumped his fist, tapped his glove and let out a celebratory expletive.
The Diamondbacks won again, this time, 3-2, over the Washington Nationals on Friday, July 24, and they did so by getting contributions large and small from a variety of sources. In winning for the ninth time in their past 11 games and continuing their charge forward in the National League wild-card race, they have begun to shift the conversation as they approach the trade deadline.
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Two weeks ago, the question was whether the Diamondbacks should buy or sell. After they improved their record to 55-49 — moving to six games over .500 for the first time since late May — it is now not whether, but rather what, they should buy.
That is, of course, barring a disastrous turn of events on this 10-game road trip, a four-city jaunt that has started with back-to-back wins.
The Diamondbacks are in sole possession of the third and final wild-card spot and are just 1 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the second wild card.
Though their offense has begun to come to life in recent weeks, they won less thanks to their slug and more because of their hitters' situational prowess and their pitching.
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The Diamondbacks put down back-to-back bunts — one for a sacrifice, the other for a run-scoring single by Tawa on a safety squeeze — to help generate two runs in the second inning, and they got the go-ahead sacrifice fly from Gabriel Moreno to move in front in the seventh.
"Everybody on the roster recognizes who they are and what the team needs," Moreno said. "I know we all want to do our job and sometimes we have to go out and move the runner, and that's what we've been doing, executing those plays and scoring runs."
Diamondbacks lefty Eduardo Rodriguez threw six innings of two-run ball, and the bullpen worked three perfect innings, including the ninth from closer Paul Sewald, who bounced back from a blown save earlier in the week.
Right-hander Juan Morillo worked the seventh and Kevin Ginkel the eighth, handing off to Sewald, who got a strikeout, a fly out and a ground ball to seal the win. The fly ball, off the bat of Luis Garcia Jr., was hit hard, but it was also hit high and might have been knocked down by the wind.
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The Diamondbacks are looking to add before the deadline, but they will be dealing with some complicating factors.
With their franchise-record payroll, they are less than $10 million away from the first luxury tax threshold. They do not seem willing to blow past it, meaning some trade possibilities will not be realistic options unless their trading partner pays down the salary.
With so few potential sellers, the cost to acquire talent could be higher than usual, raising the question of how much young talent the Diamondbacks are going to want to surrender to upgrade their team. It could mean they have to focus their attention on one area of the roster — an upgrade at first base/designated hitter or help on the pitching staff — rather than addressing multiple deficiencies.
Another consideration: The club has eight players — three position players, five pitchers — trending toward possible returns in the coming months. The Diamondbacks will want to be sure the players they acquire via trade are better than those they already have who are on the mend.
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They are certainly more desirable questions for general manager Mike Hazen and his staff to consider compared to last year, when they were forced to sell as their team stumbled into the deadline.
This year's team seems to be doing the opposite, though the Diamondbacks still have two games left against the Nationals before three-game sets against the Pirates and Guardians, both of which are contending clubs.
"So far, so good," manager Torey Lovullo said of the road trip. "We've got a long way to go."
Ketel Marte returns; injury updates on Michael Soroka, Corbin Burnes, et al
After being scratched from the lineup a day earlier due to back stiffness, second baseman Ketel Marte was back in the Diamondbacks' lineup for their series opener against the Washington Nationals on Friday, July 24.
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"He feels good," manager Torey Lovullo said. "I had a couple-minute conversation with him. The lower back is the foundation for everybody, whether you're walking, running or playing a baseball game. You feel a weakness there or stiff there, it's going to shut you down."
In other injury news, Lovullo said a quartet of injured pitchers is progressing.
Right-hander Michael Soroka is scheduled to throw two innings and 35 pitches in a simulated game on Saturday, July 25.
Right-hander Justin Martinez threw a second live batting practice session earlier this week and likely will pitch next week in a game in the bridge league, which is a setting for young minor league players to play complex-level games.
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Right-hander Corbin Burnes has thrown out to 90 feet, Lovullo said, adding that his next step is to throw a flat-ground session.
Right-hander Zac Gallen received clearance, following a consultation with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, to begin his throwing program. He threw out to 75 feet on Friday, Lovullo said.
Outfielder Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) also is expected to play in bridge league games in the coming days.
Lawlar has resumed all baseball activities and is "almost running at full speed," Lovullo said, adding that he expects Lawlar to be cautious with his running, at least initially, during rehab games.
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Diamondbacks at Nationals, 3:45 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (8-3, 2.62) vs. Nationals LHP Carson Palmquist (0-1, 8.74).
At Nationals Park: Rodriguez will try to bounce back from a rare rough outing. Facing the Cardinals last weekend, he gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings in a game the Diamondbacks came back to win, 8-7, in 10 innings. … It was just the fourth time in 20 starts Rodriguez had allowed four or more runs. … One of those four starts came against the Nationals on June 6. They scored four runs off him in 6 1/3 innings in a 6-1 win over the Diamondbacks. … Palmquist is expected to serve as an opener for RHP Zack Littell. ... Littell has made 20 appearances, 13 starts, working bulk innings in every relief appearance. Most recently, he was hit hard by the Athletics, giving up eight runs in six innings. … He matched up with Rodriguez on June 6, holding the Diamondbacks to one run in five innings with one walk and four strikeouts.
Coming up
Saturday, July 25:At Washington, 1:05 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Mitch Bratt (0-0, 5.06) vs. Nationals LHP Foster Griffin (11-2, 2.68).
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Sunday, July 26:At Washington, 10:35 a.m., Diamondbacks LHP Kohl Drake (0-0, 1.80) vs. Nationals RHP Miles Mikolas (3-7, 5.60).
Monday, July 27:At Pittsburgh, 3:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (8-8, 5.12) vs. Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.47).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Deadline direction coming into focus as Diamondbacks win again
