With Merrill Kelly getting back into Arizona Diamondbacks rotation, team makes adjustments.
As Merrill Kelly is heading back into the starting rotation for the Arizona Diamondbacks, that meant manager Torey Lovullo and the ballclub needed to make some changes.
On Monday, the team shifted Brandon Pfaadt out of the rotation and into the bullpen. Also, Taylor Rashi was optioned after the Diamondbacks' heartbreaking 9-7 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The bullpen is an unfamiliar location for Pfaadt. He's been mainly a starting pitcher in his MLB career. That, though, is going to change immediately.
“Brandon was in the bullpen today, just getting a feel for it,” Lovullo said, according to MLB.com. “And he should be gassed up and ready in the next couple days for us.”
Kelly is returning after dealing with left intercostal nerve irritation. He missed making his season debut in order to spend more time healing.
In his last start in the rotation, for now, Pfaadt allowed four runs in six innings of work in a 4-3 loss on Saturday to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rashi didn't have a good outing on Monday night as he was one of the Diamondbacks relievers who couldn't keep the Orioles off the scoreboard. It looks like Rashi will end up playing at Triple-A Reno for the organization.
Diamondbacks Injury Updates
Speaking injured players, the Diamondbacks still have a few players on the Injured List right now. Let's take a look at some of them and when they might be returning.
C Gabriel Moreno
Expected return: Likely headed to the 10-day IL.
Status: Exited April 10 game in the third inning with left lower back tightness after recording one at-bat and throwing out a runner in the top of the second. MRI taken April 11 showed muscular issue and he is likely headed for the IL. Club hopes it will be short stint.
1B Carlos Santana
Injury: Strained right adductor.
IL date: April 7 (10-day IL, retroactive to April 6).
Expected return: TBD.
Status: Exited contest early on April 5. Was checked out by training staff during his lone at-bat, which ended with a single before he was replaced by a pinch-runner. Tests revealed strain in adductor.
OF Jordan Lawlar
IL date: April 3 (60-day IL).
Expected return: June.
Status: Was hit in the right wrist with a pitch on April 2. X-rays were negative but CT scan taken April 3 showed a fracture.
OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Injury: September ACL surgery.
IL date: March 25 (10-day IL -- retroactive to March 22).
Expected return: Late April/early May.
Status: Has been playing in simulated games and doing some light running out of the box.
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