Arizona

Diamondbacks

As anticipated, Waldschmidt gets another opportunity with the big league club with Pavin Smith being designated for assignment on Friday. The 23-year-old has focused on cutting down his strikeout rate at the Triple-A level, and if that can translate with the Diamondbacks he could hit wind up having some mixed league viability, especially with his upside in the stolen base department.

Diamondbacks’ fans have been clamoring for this move for months as Smith has struggled to a horrifying .141/.236/.192 slash line with just one homer, six RBI and an 18/10 K/BB ratio over 89 plate appearances. It’s possible that he could attract some attention on waivers. Ryan Waldschmidt was recalled from Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move to take his spot on the Diamondbacks’ roster.

Kelly struck out six, matching his season high. After averaging a season-high 93.4 mph with his fastball last time out against the Brewers, he came in at 93.2 mph tonight. He averaged 92.0 and topped out at 92.7 mph in his first 14 starts this season. If his velocity stays up, he might be of use in deeper formats during the second half. Kelly figures to face the Cardinals in the D-backs’ first or second game after the break.

Sewald sandwiched strikeouts of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado around a Jackson Merrill flyout. He’s still blown just one save opportunity this season.

Waldschmidt didn’t seem ready the first time around, but he had dragged his strikeout rate under 20 percent in the three weeks since he returned to Triple-A. He’s probably not ready to hit homers in the majors, but if the Diamondbacks want to play him regularly, he might steal enough bases to be useful in 12-team leagues. Tommy Troy, Max Kepler and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. could all lose at-bats with Waldschmidt back.

Abner returns to add a fresh arm to the Diamondbacks’ bullpen for the final four games heading into the All-Star break. The 24-year-old southpaw holds a 9.95 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and a 4/4 K/BB ratio over 6 1/3 innings in three appearances with the D’Backs this season.

As anticipated, Cabrera heads back to Reno with Michael Soroka expected to be ready to return to take his place in the Diamondbacks’ rotation coming out of the All-Star break. Phillip Abner was recalled from Triple-A Reno to add a fresh arm to the team’s bullpen for the final four games before the break.

Since throwing five scoreless innings in his major league debut against the Twins last month, Cabrera has given up 11 runs and walked nine in 12 2/3 innings over three starts. It seems likely that he’ll head back to Triple-A now, as the D-backs could have Michael Soroka ready to go after the break.

Gallen’s woes continued against the Padres on Tuesday. San Diego got to him for four runs in the first inning, including a three-run homer by Jake Cronenworth. He’d settled in to give the Diamondbacks five more scoreless frames, ending his day after six with five strikeouts. The 30-year-old right-hander will take a 6.34 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and a 61/31 K/BB ratio across 98 innings into a start against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Ryan Thompson and Drey Jameson each pitched two scoreless innings to finish the game. Pfaadt walked none and allowed four hits, all of which were singles. His stuff doesn’t seem to be any better than it was at the beginning of the year, but he’s given the D-backs two very effective starts since returning from the minors. He’ll take on the Dodgers on Saturday.