Diamondbacks News
(SI.com) D-backs Give New Injury Updates on Zac Gallen, Tommy Troy and More
“Gallen, we’re continuing to evaluate,” Lovullo said. “He is waiting for other opinions from other doctors. So we’ll just keep putting that off until we get everything complete.”
Second opinions are often an inauspicious sign. That very process sometimes indicates a more serious injury can be the case, though it is certainly not a guarantee Gallen is destined for Tommy John surgery or anything similar.
(Arizona Sports) Report: Diamondbacks to call up 1B Tyler Locklear from Triple-A Reno
The Arizona Diamondbacks are recalling first baseman Tyler Locklear from Triple-A Reno, according to azcentral’s Nick Piecoro.
Piecoro added that Locklear will be taking the roster spot previously occupied by outfielder Tommy Troy, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a sprained right AC joint.
(AZ Central) The plan for newly promoted Diamondbacks first baseman Tyler Locklear
Locklear had elbow and shoulder surgeries, was forced to miss spring training while he healed and was buried on the proverbial first base depth chart behind Pavin Smith, José Fernandez, Carlos Santana, Vargas and LuJames Groover.
But now, Smith, Fernandez and Groover are in the minors, Santana is no longer on the roster and Vargas has more of a utility role. An injury to outfielder Tommy Troy that landed him on the 10-day injured list on July 15 opened the door for Locklear to be called up from Triple-A Reno, and Locklear was in Phoenix on Thursday.
(SI.com) How Corbin Carroll Is Still Impacting Diamondbacks Despite Ugly Slump
At the same time, the at-bats have looked rough. After scorching-hot months of April and May, his production tailed a little in June, but he’s fallen into a .100/.250/.150 July. He’s swinging and missing at fastballs down the middle and struggling to make hard contact.
In all likelihood, Carroll will pull himself out of this slump at some point. He’s done so before and come out looking as good as he ever has. But Carroll has graduated beyond the type of player whose impact ends when he walks off the playing field.
(Burn City Sports) What are the key dates for the Diamondbacks’ 2027 MLB schedule?
The release of a Major League Baseball schedule rarely generates the same excitement as a blockbuster trade or a free-agent signing. Yet for the Arizona Diamondbacks, the 2027 schedule tells a much bigger story than simply who they’ll play and when.
Beginning the season with consecutive road series against National League West rivals, the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants, before returning to Chase Field for their home opener against the Miami Marlins, will surely be a tough test for the D-backs. From there, the competition only intensifies. Early meetings with divisional powers, established American League contenders, and National League playoff hopefuls create one of the season’s toughest opening stretches.
MLB News
(Engadget) MLB bans using dugout iPads for AI-powered in-game strategy calls
It appears the urge to turn all critical thinking over to AI has not escaped Major League Baseball teams. Regular baseball viewers have become accustomed to seeing players and staff huddled around tablets in the dugout. The expectation is that the devices are used for reviewing performance and maybe crunching last-minute stats, but apparently MLB officials have intervened to prevent teams from using the hardware for running generative AI. League officials have taken the unusual step of making a mid-season policy change to crack down on the use of custom apps that would take over “recommendations regarding substitutions, pitch calling, and other in-game decisions traditionally made by players and coaches.”
(ESPN) MLB set for earliest Opening Day in 2027, if there is a season
Major League Baseball is set to have its earliest Opening Day next year on March 24 except for any international games — if there is an Opening Day.
MLB said Thursday that its 2027 season will start with a single game to be televised that night by Netflix. The teams have not been chosen.
(NBC Sports) Phillies reliever Brad Keller out for season with torn UCL, surgery possible
Phillies reliever Brad Keller is expected to miss the rest of this season — and possibly more — with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
Keller was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday and said he will seek a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, a top specialist, before making a determination about surgery.
If the right-hander requires Tommy John surgery, he likely would miss most if not all of the 2027 season as well.
(ESPN) Sources: Chase Burns, Reds reach 7-year, $105M extension
Burns, 23, in his first full season with the Reds, is 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 102⅔ innings. Featuring one of the best sliders in baseball and a fastball that averages 97.9 mph, the second hardest of any big league starter, Burns has emerged as a potential future Cy Young Award winner.
The deal, which buys out two of Burns’ free agent years, has no club options and runs through 2033. It is the largest ever for a pitcher who has yet to reach arbitration and the third-biggest contract in Reds history behind extensions given to Joey Votto (10 years, $225 million) and Ken Griffey Jr. (nine years, $116.5 million).
(Sporting News) Phillies’ air quality update raises health, visibility concerns during Mets game tonight on ESPN after changed start time
The Phillies are hosting the New York Mets on Thursday night to return from the All-Star Break, but the game had its start time changed quite late in the day in hopes of beating the worst AQI (Air Quality Index).
A scheduled 7:10 p.m. first pitch was moved up to 6:10 p.m. only a bit more than an hour before the new start time.
And as the game has gone on, visibility has gotten worse. The television broadcast has shown declining views of anything visible beyond the outfield fence into the city.
“Man, I don’t know,” said Braves first baseman Matt Olson. “I mean, I’ve seen some of the videos of it and it looks like it probably favors hitters, so sure. I’ll take anything.”
“I think so,” Reds pitcher Chase Burns said. “We’ve seen it a little bit in the minors and it’s just so hard to see with the naked eye. I think in the upcoming years we’ll be able to challenge that.”
