PHOENIX \u2014 It\u2019s Game Two of a three-game set between the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> and Kansas City Royals<\/a>, which is also the sixth game of a seven-game homestand for the Diamondbacks. Ryne Nelson<\/a><\/strong> is set to start pitching for the Diamondbacks, facing Royals righty Brady Singer<\/a><\/strong>. Prior to the game, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo<\/a><\/strong> and Royals manager Matt Quatraro<\/a><\/strong> met (separately) with the media on hand.<\/p>\n The big Diamondbacks news from the day was the optioning of outfielder Jake McCarthy<\/a><\/strong> to Triple-A Reno. In his place, they have called up corner infielder Emmanuel Rivera<\/a><\/strong>. Lovullo gave the reasons for his sending down:<\/p>\n \u201c(What) we explained to him last night is that things just weren’t trending in a very positive direction. He didn’t have the same swing results. Wasn’t making good swing decisions at the beginning. Started to lay off certain pitches and just wasn’t finishing his swing. So what I explained to him we could leave (him) here and a year playing catch up, something that numbers-wise wouldn’t be as productive as we feel like (he) could be if (he) went down and got (his) swing back together. Got some time, got some reps, and do what (he) did last year.\u201d<\/p>\n McCarthy handled the optioning differently this season than he did last season. Lovullo said, \u201cLast year he looked me square in the eye and told me, \u2018I’m not the right guy to sit down right now, but I’ll go.\u2019 This year was a little bit different version of that. I think he felt like there was something that he needed to go down there and work on. We identified that and have been working hard over the past couple days.\u201d<\/p>\n McCarthy had a hitting session today at Salt River. His flight to Reno arrives at noon Wednesday. The Aces game begins at 12:05, so McCarthy will not be in their lineup until Thursday at the earliest.<\/p>\n Lovullo said they\u2019re trying to help McCarthy \u201cretrieve some of the swing mechanics that helped him be so successful last year.\u201d He added, \u201cWe need Jake McCarthy to get to where we’re going. He’s a good player. I strongly believe he’s one of our best outfielders in the system and needs to be at the big league level to help us win baseball games. Hopefully will go down and take care of his business. He\u2019s in a good mindset right now.\u201d<\/p>\n The problem the team identified is that he \u201cwasn\u2019t getting off his A-swing enough.\u201d He was in his \u201cB-swing,\u201d where he was chipping at the ball and protecting the plate.<\/p>\n Lovullo feels that McCarthy\u2019s illness in spring training hurt his preparation for the season. \u201cWhat we can go to as a reference point,\u201d Lovullo said, \u201c(is) what spring training meant to me as a player. I know that the first couple of weeks for Jake is getting timed up to the fastball, and then (he gets) the last couple of weeks to get everything timed up \u2014 hitting off the fastball and timing up the breaking ball. (The illness) interrupted it for eight days there. I think he was still working on the timing of his fastball. So he never got all the swing coordinates down, based on pitch selection.\u201d<\/p>\n Lovullo told him he could stay with the Diamondbacks and have a .600 OPS, hit eight home runs, and have 32 RBI. \u201cThat\u2019s not helping anybody,\u201d Lovullo said. He then told McCarthy he could go to Reno, get everything timed up, come back to the majors, and produce numbers twice as high.<\/p>\n Pavin Smith<\/a><\/strong> will play some outfield until McCarthy returns. The team will \u201ckeep him on the right side of the diamond,\u201d however, so he\u2019ll mainly play right.<\/p>\n Rivera was called up both because he\u2019s been hitting so well in Triple-A and also because he\u2019s right-handed. The Diamondbacks will be facing several left-handed starters over the next few days, namely Ryan Yarbrough<\/a><\/strong> for the Royals Wednesday and both Kyle Freeland<\/a><\/strong> and Austin Gomber<\/a><\/strong> of the Colorado Rockies<\/a> on the trip to Denver this weekend. In addition, the Royals have some \u201ctough left-handers\u201d in their \u2018pen.<\/p>\n Rivera will mostly play third and designated hitter. In a pinch, he will play first base as well.<\/p>\n Royals starter Brady Singer had a decent first start to the 2023 season but has been roughed up in his last three. That did not negatively impact the Diamondbacks\u2019 preparation to face him. \u201cWe\u2019re prepared for Singer\u2019s best,\u201d Lovullo stated. \u201cWe know that he was very elite last year. And we know that he has the capabilities of being lights out. He might be on that WBC list. I know that there’s a few. We’ve talked about in here with Merrill (Kelly), maybe a little WBC hangover. Lance Lynn<\/a><\/strong> has been in that. Adam Wainwright<\/a><\/strong> has also been in that category. So we’re hoping we don’t see (Singer\u2019s) best and (can) take advantage of it. But we’re preparing for Singer\u2019s best. We know that he’s a special pitcher.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking of Singer, he did well in his outing against the Diamondbacks last season. In that, he allowed one run (a solo home run) on four hits, walking none while striking out six across seven innings. Quatraro was asked how an outing against a team Singer had success against can help him get back on track. He responded, \u201cRegardless of who he\u2019s facing, a good outing is gonna be a real positive for him and for us. But I honestly don’t think he cares who he’s pitching against. He just wants to do what he knows he can do and execute his pitches.\u201d<\/p>\nTorey Lovullo, Diamondbacks Manager<\/h3>\n
\u201cWe Need Jake McCarthy\u201d<\/h4>\n
Rivera Getting Recalled<\/h4>\n
Prepared for Singer\u2019s Best<\/h4>\n
Matt Quatraro, Royals Manager<\/h3>\n