Diamondbacks vs. Reds Pregame — August 26, 2023
Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks Manager
Injury Updates
Arizona Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo said before his team’s game with the Cincinnati Reds that Drey Jameson is “out to 60 to 90 feet, feeling asymptomatic, and feeling good.” The next steps will be to get him out to 120 feet and then start throwing bullpen sessions. Lovullo does not yet know if that means he’ll be able to pitch for the team this season, however. Jameson still has to “check some boxes before he gets there,” according to Lovullo.
Zach Davies is returning to the mound for the first time since July 18.
Moreno Workload
Gabriel Moreno has been taking the bulk of the catching load since returning from injury, although Jose Herrera is starting today. Lovullo said with a chuckle that the realistic load for Moreno is “about a half a game less” than what is currently being done, adding as an aside that he doesn’t know how exactly to quantify half a game. “I have to be mindful moving forward, and I will. He’s in a really good spot, carrying a heavy load and delivering,” Lovullo said. “But I want to make sure that he stays there for the rest of the year.”
Lovullo added that it is tough to take out the guys that are either on a hot streak or are the main players. “I get nervous when Player X, Y, or Z is out of the game, but you have to do it,” he said. Lovullo also said that he used to construct lineups five or six days in advance but learned some lessons, specifically mentioning David Peralta getting five hits and sitting out the next day as an example. “I’ve made adjustments to that, but I need to be mindful overall of the workload, especially with a very demanding position.”
Using Moreno as a designated hitter to give a partial day off has been discussed, but Lovullo would prefer to give Moreno a true day off when he’s not catching.
Bullpen Games
The Reds are starting reliever Fernando Cruz, meaning today is a “bullpen game.” Lovullo noted that a lot of teams have had success with it this season, including the Diamondbacks. What makes it tougher for offenses is that they don’t get two or three looks at a pitcher like they do with a traditional starting pitcher. “You have to prepare as you would for a back-end game,” he said, meaning that the hitters will often be “matched up” as they would from the sixth inning onward. “You’re facing a guy for a very particular reason. So (you must) be aware of where his strengths are and where your strengths are…. You have to be ready from the first pitch on.”
It is also more challenging when facing a team like the Reds, whom they only see for two series a year, than it is for an NL West opponent. Lovullo said that against an NL West team, “I know when somebody stands up without having to look at the numbers on the monitors who that body is and who that who that person is.” He added that if he can do that, the hitters surely can, so they’ll have a bit of an edge in the matchup if it’s a familiar pitcher to them. But in this case, they don’t. “How often do we see Fernando Cruz or (Ben) Lively? We gotta be ready.”
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Main Photo Credits:
PHOENIX, Aug. 26 — Members of the Cincinnati Reds warm up prior to their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday evening at Chase Field. (Photo by Evan Thompson/Sport Relay)
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