Feels like a while since we were at Chase Field!
No roster move as yet for the arrival of the newest Diamondback, A.J. Puk. It appears he won’t be in Phoenix in time for the game tonight, so we may end up getting a clue as to the departing player, because they may well end up pitching at some point tonight. For example, if it becomes a blowout and Thyago Vieira throws the last four innings… yeah, he’s probably not going to be around tomorrow. If I’d to guess, looking at the bullpen arms listed above, that would be the roster move, considering Vieira was a waiver-wire pick with a 5.21 ERA this year. He has been considerably better as a D-back (2.87 ERA), but his FIP is close to two runs higher (4.74) so that probably isn’t sustainable.
Elsewhere, some news on Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez, who continue to rehab their way back to the rotation. Both men have thrown a two-inning simulated game over the past couple of days according to Torey Lovullo and will throw bullpen on Sunday and Monday respectively. Jack reports that, all being well, this would then be followed by a three-inning/55 pitch sim game for each pitcher in the middle of next week. We might then begin to get some idea of a return date, though I imagine that’s still likely to be mid to late August for Kelly and Rodriguez. But as previously noted, I’ll believe in the existence of E-Rod when I see him…