Varsho gets start in OF; Peralta has night at DH
David Peralta got the day off, sort of. The veteran was in the lineup batting sixth as designated hitter for Tuesday’s series opener against Houston at Chase Field but Daulton Varsho was in Peralta’s usual defensive position of left field and batting eighth. It was the first start of the season for Varsho, who was called up from the alternate training site at Salt River Fields on Thursday.
Varsho, 24, entered the season ranked as the Diamondbacks’ No. 1 prospect (53rd overall) by Baseball America and No. 3 by MLB.com (76th overall). He was the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2019.
He made his major league debut on Thursday against the Dodgers and drew a walk as a pinch-hitter.
Manager Torey Lovullo cautioned all not to read too much into the move.
“Wanted to give David a half a day off,” he said. “He’s going to grind just like he always does, approach it the same way. I know physically it can be a nice day for him to get off his feet nine times in left field. That in combination with yesterday’s off day I felt like it would give him a good push. (A) lot of people reading into it, it doesn’t mean much. It will give Daulton Varsho a chance to go out and play a game and I’m excited about that.”
Peralta has served as designated hitter three career games, hitting .308 (4-for-13) with 2 RBIs and a walk. In two DH appearances last season he was 3-for-5 (.600) with a walk.
On the season the veteran is hitting just .182 (6-for-33) and he’s coming off a 2-for-11 showing in the three game set against Los Angeles.
New series, same umpiring crew
The Diamondbacks may have welcomed a new foe in the Houston Astros but the umpiring crew was pretty much in tact for the start of the threegame set against the Astros at Chase Field.
The quartet of Adrian Johnson, Mark Ripperger, Quinn Wolcott and crew chief Ted Barrett had Arizona’s first games 10 games — three series — which is unusual. The umpires typically change with each series, or at worst after two series.
But in light of the complications of the coronavirus pandemic Major League Baseball is trying to limit travel for the umpires as well so they have been traveling with teams rather than taking commercial flights.
“I think every umpire has their own unique way and how they call strikes, the way they set up,” catcher Carson Kelly said. “I think the familiarity with guy back there you know what they like. The more times you’re out there with the guy behind you, talk to him, see and work with him to get him the best angle and the best call. It’s all about communication.”
There was only a slight change was with Ripperger not in this crew, replaced by Nick Mahrley.
Short hops
Houston is not a team the Diamondbacks see much of. This is the first time the teams are playing since is 2018 when they took two of three at home. The Diamondbacks are 6-5 in last 11 games against the Astros, since June 2, 2016.
Arizona’s offensive struggles have been well-documented but Ketel Marte continues to do his part. He has reached base safely in nine of 10 games this season and is hitting .308 (12for-39) with a .462 slugging percentage.
Monday’s off day was the first of the season for the Diamondbacks and all say with the resulting struggles it was a well-timed day-off and a chance to regroup.