Smith likely to take over CF in Marte’s absence
The Diamondbacks placed center fielder Ketel Marte on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a strained left hamstring, but manager Torey Lovullo said MRI results indicate that Marte’s strain is “considerably less” severe than the one on his right hamstring that sidelined him for nearly six weeks earlier this season.
With a lefty on the mound, Tim Locastro got the start in center field on Monday night in St. Louis, but Lovullo indicated that Pavin Smith is likely to see the bulk of the time in center in Marte’s absence.
“I love the way Pavin has been performing this year,” Lovullo said. “We just want him to be consistent and strong for the rest of the year. I have to be mindful of his overall games played. This is potentially going to be his first time playing six months of baseball. I just want to make sure I’m doing my part to get him off his feet.”
Smith has slumped recently, going 10 for 50 (.200) with only one extra-base hit in his past 14 games, but he has provided the Diamondbacks with generally consistent at-bats and occasional power. His defense on the outfield corners has been solid; however, he has been subpar in center field, where his range has been tested.
Twice in the past week Marte left games early due to his left hamstring. Lovullo defended the club’s handling of the injury when he was asked if the team was perhaps too aggressive in bringing Marte back only a few days after he first felt discomfort.
“In no way do I think he was rushed,” Lovullo said.
Right-hander Matt Peacock said his shift from the rotation into the bullpen is likely to lead to an increase in the use of his slider, a pitch he thinks he ought to have gone to more in the seventh inning on Sunday, when the Padres scored three times off him to take the lead.
The slider has been a highly effective pitch for him this season. Opponents are hitting just .146 with a .171 slugging against the slider.
“All the numbers and everything shows that it’s a good pitch,” Peacock said. “I’ll rely on that a little more.”
Peacock allowed hits to each of the first five batters of the seventh inning on Sunday. In that span, he threw his sinker on 10 out of 11 pitches. He switched up his pitch mix after that, going more often to the slider, and struck out the next three batters.
Peacock thinks the nature of relieving -- plus the characteristics of his pitches -- should allow him to use his slider more going forward.
“I don’t have to worry about facing guys throughout the day three, four times,” Peacock said. “I think it (the slider) plays up because of the way my fastball moves and the similar velocities. There’s not much of a gap, so anything that -- even if it goes to my gloveside a little bit, it plays up with my twoseam.”
Short hop
Lovullo said left-hander Madison Bumgarner (shoulder) will face hitters for two innings in a live batting practice setting at Salt River Fields on Tuesday. Right-hander Tyler Clippard (shoulder) also will face hitters for the first time in his rehab process, Lovullo said.