Kevin

Ginkel

Ginkel will miss the remainder of the season with a right shoulder strain. It’s unclear whether the 31-year-old righty will require surgery, which would result in a much longer absence, or go the rest and rehabilitation route.

Ginkel hits the shelf for the second time this season due to shoulder issues after missing nearly one month at the outset of the year with inflammation. There is no timetable for his return yet.

It came in his 133rd career relief appearance. Nelson, who just made his season debut Friday, retired three of four batters, with a JJ Bleday homer mixed in. He was a surprising choice in the ninth, but it seems the Diamondbacks didn’t want to use Kevin Ginkel after he threw 20 pitches on Saturday. Kendall Graveman would probably be the top alternative to Ginkel in the Arizona pen, but he tossed a perfect eighth against the heart of the lineup today.

Ginkel was called upon in the 11th inning to preserve a one-run lead with a ghost runner on second base and completed the task. More impressively, he did so on just six pitches. These could be his last few weeks as a closer this season as tons of trade rumors swirl around him and the rest of this Diamondbacks’ roster.

The first two hits against Ginkel were both bunts, with the second supposed to be a sacrifice. Ginkel rebounded to get Victor Caratini to pop out. Old friend Christian Walker came up after that. Ginkel battled him with eight straight fastballs, all of them designed to be at the belt or above. The last one, though, dipped into the heart of the strike zone, and Walker managed to ground it up the middle for a single. It’s the first run allowed by Ginkel in six appearances. He’s still the favorite for saves in Arizona at the moment.

After Shelby Miller was placed on the injured list with a right forearm strain before Monday’s game, Ginkel was given the first save chance with Miller unavailable. It was far from picturesque as he threw just 5-of-11 pitches for strikes while walking a batter and striking out none, but the job was done. Ginkel will likely see the save chances for now, but he assuredly won’t have a long leash if he isn’t up to the task.

Not good. Miller has taken over as Arizona’s primary closer since early May following injuries to A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez. The scary part here is that forearm issues are often a precursor to more alarming elbow concerns. It’s unclear where Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo will turn with Miller on the shelf, but Kevin Ginkel and Jalen Beeks have some closing experience. The wild cards here would be John Curtiss and Kyle Backhus.

Ginkel was one of Arizona’s primary high-leverage specialists a couple years ago, but he wound up being demoted back in late May after allowing 14 runs over 10 innings (13 appearances) to open the year. He could factor into the club’s late-inning plans given their present injury-depleted state, but there’s no reason to consider him for fantasy purposes.

The 31-year-old hurler has been obliterated in 13 appearances out of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen this season, compiling a dreadful 12.60 ERA, 2.10 WHIP and a 15/7 K/BB ratio over 10 innings of work. He’ll work through his issues at the Triple-A level for the time being.

Kevin Ginkel will be optioned to Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. Brigham has struggled through 17 appearances at the Triple-A level, registering a 5.23 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 32/9 K/BB ratio across 20 2/3 innings. Expect him to function in a middle relief role for skipper Torey Lovullo.