Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #59: 6/1 vs. Dodgers

Today’s Lineups

Roster moves

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.

• Reinstated from the 60-day injured list: INF Pavin Smith (left elbow inflammation)

• Optioned to Triple-A Reno following yesterday’s game: INF/OF Tim Tawa

• Transferred to the 60-day injured list: INF Carlos Santana (strained right adductor)

Smith’s season was barely under way – just two games played – before it went into the freezer, due to the elbow issue. The best part of two months later, after five games of rehab – one in the ACL, and then four with the Reno Aces at Triple-A. He went 7-for-17 there with a double, a walk and four strikeouts, but the main thing will be Pavin’s health. The team certainly needs him, whether it’s at 1B or, as tonight, as Arizona’s designated hitter. The D-backs currently rank 29th by OPS from first-base, at a mere .620 (MLB average is more than 150 points higher, at .777) and 27th at the DH (a woeful .580, compared to MLB average .725).

On that basis, the bar for Smith to be an improvement is pretty low. His career figure, now over 450 games, is .736. Which is about three hundred points higher than you’d think if you only looked at social media. Simply producing at that level would significantly boost either position, so let’s hope he can contribute immediately. We will need all the help we can find this series against the Dodgers, who have rebounded from a rough stretch, although they never dropped more than a half-game out of first place in the division. They have won seven of the last eight, to rebuild a 5.5 game lead in the NL West. They’re 14-3 since May 13, with a 2.09 ERA over that time. It won’t be easy.

While we’re here, some other health updates: