Nelson (2-3) allowed eight runs on 11 hits and a walk while striking out four over four-plus innings to take the loss versus the Tigers on Friday.
Nelson avoided giving up a home run for the first time in three outings since he returned from an elbow injury, but that was the only silver lining on a dark cloud in this start. He allowed five runs over the first four innings and then failed to get an out in the fifth as the Tigers piled on. This was Nelson's worst start of the season, but he's generally struggled with a 7.06 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 23:7 K:BB over 29.1 innings through seven appearances. He's tentatively projected for a difficult road start versus the Dodgers in his next outing.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Rodriguez (shoulder) has extended his throwing program out to 60 feet, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.
Rodriguez had to pause his throwing program in early April due to discomfort in his left shoulder, but the fact that he's extended his throwing distance is an encouraging sign. He was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on April 17, which would make the left-hander eligible to return in mid-June.
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Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson: Scratched Friday
Rotowire
Pederson was scratched from Arizona's lineup ahead of Friday's game versus the Tigers.
Manager Torey Lovullo emphasized that Pederson is not injured, the skipper simply wanted to use him off the bench instead during Friday's contest, per Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com. While Pederson sits, Randal Grichuk will serve as Arizona's DH, and Jake McCarthy will fill the opening in right field, batting seventh.
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Diamondbacks' Jake McCarthy: Idle against southpaw
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McCarthy is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers.
The lefty-hitting McCarthy will give way to Randal Grichuk in right field Friday as Detroit trots out the left-handed Tarik Skubal. McCarthy is 2-for-15 (.133) at the plate since May 5.
Sewald worked a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his second save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Reds.
The right-hander needed only eight pitches (four strikes) to get the job done. Sewald has been his usual effective self since making his season debut May 7, giving up just one run with a 4:1 K:BB in his first four innings, and he has a firm hold on the closer role for Arizona.
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Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt: Fans nine in no-decision
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Pfaadt came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Reds, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out nine.
The right-hander generated 30 called or swinging strikes on 93 pitches in one of his best performances of the season, and his only real mistake resulted in a Santiago Espinal solo shot in the fifth inning. Pfaadt extended his quality start streak to four with the effort, a stretch in which he's posted a 3.24 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 24:4 K:BB through 25 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, but he'll face a tough test on the road early next week against the Dodgers.
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Diamondbacks' Ryan Thompson: Picks up first win
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Thompson (1-1) recorded Wednesday's win over Cincinnati, allowing one hit and striking out one over a scoreless eighth inning.
Thompson, who made an eighth consecutive scoreless appearance, has been the Diamondbacks' best reliever through the first month-and-a-half. The side-arming right-hander sports a 1.00 ERA with just two walks while striking out 13 over 18 innings. He leads the team with six holds.
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Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel: Delivers clutch hit
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Gurriel went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and an RBI in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Cincinnati.
Gurriel's two-out, bloop double in the eighth inning plated the winning run. The outfielder has been fighting it at the plate and entered the contest batting .121 (8-for-66) with two RBI over the previous 16 games. His average has dropped to .231 due to the slump, but Gurriel remains an important middle-of-the-order bat for Arizona and is second on the club with 25 RBI over 40 games.
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Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Snaps homer drought
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Walker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Reds.
Walker led off the second inning with his eighth homer of the season and first in 13 games. He entered the contest on a 1-for-16 run and is batting .217 for the month. The recent slump dropped his average to .264, but Walker still leads the team with 28 RBI.
Diamondbacks' Druw Jones: Overmatched early this season
Rotowire
Jones is slashing .247/.357/.366 with one home run, two steals and a 37.2 percent strikeout rate in 27 games for Single-A Visalia.
Jones' contact rate is below 55 percent and his BABIP is .423, so his slash line is due for negative regression. It's troubling that Jones has only three homers in 240 career at-bats, but it's much more concerning that he appears overmatched against Single-A pitchers as a 20-year-old.
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Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson: Takes seat against lefty
Rotowire
Pederson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.
The lefty-hitting Pederson will head to the bench while southpaw Andrew Abbott toes the rubber for Cincinnati. Blaze Alexander will fill in for Pederson as Arizona's designated hitter.
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Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll: Getting day off Wednesday
Rotowire
Carroll is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.
Carroll looked like he might be righting the ship earlier this month, but he's since fallen back into a 3-for-28 slump over his last seven contests. Jake McCarthy will patrol center field Wednesday while Carroll regroups.
Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Burned second time through order
Rotowire
Cecconi (1-3) was charged with Tuesday's loss to the Reds. He allowed six runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three over 5.2 innings.
Cecconi has been dynamite the first time through orders, when opponents are hitting .029 with a .084 OPS, but things go sideways after that. The second time through, Cecconi is allowing a .355 average and 1.283 OPS. He told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that Tuesday's outing brought the struggles into focus: "It's a mental thing," the right-hander said. Cecconi said when he starts to get hit, he focuses on locating the ball, which takes velocity off whichever type of pitch he's trying to execute. He vowed to use Tuesday as a lesson that he can take into his next start Monday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Perdomo (knee) has started to take live at-bats, hit in the cages and field ground balls, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Perdomo, who's putting in five-to-seven hours per day while rehabbing at Salt River Fields, expressed optimism that he'll return by the end of the month. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo is not ready to put a timeline on the shortstop's return, but acknowledged Perdomo looks good executing the work he's currently doing. Next up, per the manager, is getting spikes on Perdomo's feet and having him run, cut, make turns and the agility to start and stop.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Knocks in two in loss
Rotowire
Alexander started at second base and went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Reds.
Alexander filled in for a resting Ketel Marte and plated both Arizona runs with a two-out single in the third inning. Those were his first RBI in 13 contests. His playing time has been spotty, as the Diamondbacks are intent on Kevin Newman as the primary shortstop while Geraldo Perdomo (knee) works his way back.
