Lopez hasn’t allowed a run since his rough debut

On Sept. 9, 2018, Yoan Lopez allowed two home runs and a triple without recording an out in his major-league debut.

He hasn’t allowed a run since. Cheekily clinging to superstition, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo had no desire to be asked about it, so he took precautions before delivering a response.

“Way to go,” Lovullo said when asked about Lopez’s scoreless streak. “I’ve got to knock on wood now.”

In 14 2/3 innings since his debut, Lopez has trimmed that infinity ERA down to a minuscule 1.84 in 17 career appearances.

“I know that first outing was very flimsy,” Lovullo said. “The stuff wasn’t what we had heard about from player development and he was a little anxious and nervous. … But the one thing he did was get back on the mound and keep pounding strikes. That’s always a good sign for someone who believes in themselves and isn’t afraid of contact.

“That was my starting point. I told him it was going to get better and that it wasn’t easy to do what he did. So was I surprised by the outing? Yes. Am I surprised he’s had the success he’s had after that? No.”

Lopez has emerged as a trusted member of Lovullo’s bullpen, even earning a chance to follow right-hander Yoshihisa Hirano in Friday’s game against the San Diego Padres.

Still, streak or no streak, Lovullo suggested that the recent results don’t necessarily suggest that Lopez has achieved elite status just yet. In 5 2/3 innings this season, Lopez has yielded four walks compared to just one in nine innings of work last season. Lopez will need to bring that number down in order to move up the ranks in the Diamondbacks’ bullpen.

What Lopez has established, however, is an effective two-pitch mix. The 26year-old features a 97-mph fastball to go along with an 84-mph slider. Lopez uses the fastball about 70 percent of the time and breaks out the slider as an outpitch. Lopez has also used a change-up, but he has not thrown one this season.

Lopez has thrown 21 sliders since his debut and has received swings and misses from opposing batters on four of those, which breaks down to a19 percent whiff rate. More than 44 percent of swings against Lopez’s slider go for whiffs. In other words, it’s proved to be a tough pitch to hit.

Peralta stays hot vs. Padres

The Diamondbacks’ offense may be struggling of late, but outfielder David Peralta has continued his torrid start with three hits over the past two days while Arizona bats have gone cold.

Entering play Saturday, Peralta had hit safely in 13 of 14 games this season and boasted a .478 batting average (11for-23) on the season to go along with six doubles, four RBIs and four runs scored in five games against the Padres.

Peralta’s 23 hits through the club’s first 14 games are a Diamondbacks record, surpassing the previous mark of 22 by Felipe Lopez in 2009.

In 67 career games against the Padres, Peralta owns a .322 average to go along with eight home runs and 32 RBIs.

Short hops

❚ Lovullo was in attendance at Salt River Fields as left-hander T.J. McFarland (shoulder) threw a full assortment of pitches against seven hitters.

❚ Lovullo suggested McFarland could head out on a rehab assignment soon, although no firm plans have been announced.

❚ Infielder Jake Lamb (quad) played catch and hit off a tee for the first time on Saturday, per Lovullo. Catcher Alex Avila (quad) has not yet resumed baseball activities.

❚ Right-hander Taijuan Walker (Tommy John rehab) is scheduled to throw his next bullpen session on Tuesday, Lovullo said.