Nolan

Arenado

It looks to be nothing more than a routine day of rest for the 35-year-old third baseman. Tim Tawa will start in his place at the hot corner and will bat seventh for the D’Backs against Brewers’ right-hander Brandon Sproat.

Arenado delivered a two-out, two-run double off of Kyle Harrison in the third inning that tied the game up at three runs apiece. That’s how the score would remain until the Brewers finally struck for four runs in the top half of the 11th. The 35-year-old slugger is having a decent season overall at the plate, slashing .242/.314/.395 with nine homers and 36 RBI in his first 315 plate appearances for the Diamondbacks.

After a nice May, Arenado came into this one having hit just .167/.220/.202 with no homers in his previous 23 games. Tonight’s homer was legit, though, traveling 397 feet to left. He has nine in 79 games on the season, putting him on the same pace as last year, when he had 12 in 107 games.

Arenado went 0-for-4 in his return to Arizona’s lineup during Sunday’s game against the Mariners after missing three contests due to a combination of groin and elbow issues. The 35-year-old defensive wizard appears unlikely to miss any additional time moving forward.

It’s unclear if it’s because of the groin strain that cost him two games or the elbow bruise he suffered getting plunked as a pinch-hitter last night, but he again appears to be day-to-day. Jose Fernandez started at third base against the Mariners.

Arenado is also likely sporting an elbow bruise after getting plunked as a pinch-hitter in Friday’s game. Nevertheless, he’s playing third base tonight.

Arenado remained out of the starting lineup Friday because of a groin strain, but he entered as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and singled. He then got hit in the ninth by Andrés Muñoz and departed for a pinch-runner. Fortunately, it was just the funny bone, apparently, and Arenado shouldn’t miss additional time.

It’s the second straight contest that the 35-year-old third baseman has missed since exiting Tuesday’s game with right groin tightness. The good news is that he’s improving and isn’t expected to require a trip to the injured list. He remains day-to-day.

No surprise after Arenado made an early exit from Tuesday’s contest with right groin tightness. The 35-year-old veteran will benefit from Thursday’s scheduled off day before Arizona kicks off a three-game road series against the Mariners on Friday night.

Arenado said he didn’t feel a pull in the area, and there are no plans for imaging. If he can’t go Wednesday, then Jose Fernandez becomes more likely to start against the Giants.