D-backs recall Christian Walker, send RHP Matt Andriese to Single-A
Aug 28, 2018, 2:19 PM | Updated: 3:07 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks Christian Walker breaks up San Diego Padres starting pitcher Tyson Ross' no-hitter with an RBI double during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 20, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
The Arizona Diamondbacks recalled infielder Christian Walker and optioned right-handed reliever Matt Andriese to Single-A Visalia on Tuesday.
Walker hasn’t taken a major league at-bat since July 1 and in 20 appearances at the start of the 2018 season was batting 5-for-24 (.208) with a home run and two RBI. The 27-year-old first baseman is slashing .299/.354/.568 with Triple-A Reno this season and has 18 home runs and 71 RBI in 84 games played.
“This gives us a little bit of freedom to have that right-handed bat off the bench,” manager Torey Lovullo told Burns & Gambo Tuesday on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. “We know who we’re going to be facing in L.A.”
After Arizona faces left-handed San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner Tuesday and wraps the series Wednesday, it faces three left-handed Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitchers over a four-game series from Thursday through Sunday.
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Andriese, a long reliever, has made nine appearances with Arizona since being acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on July 25.
With the D-backs, he’s posted a 4.15 ERA, having allowed 14 hits, six earned runs and five home runs in 13.0 innings.
Lovullo said the move will allow Andriese to stretch out and give Arizona a potential arm for starts down the stretch.
“We wanted to stretch him out a little bit,” Lovullo said. “We just felt like the convenience of it — yeah, it’s a little bit out of the norm (to sent him to Single-A), but it’s about going to get the reps right now, and that’s the most important thing.”
Andriese allowed a home run in each of his last two outings, on Aug. 17 against the San Diego Padres and on Aug. 24 against the Seattle Mariners.
Arizona acquired Andriese by sending minor league pitcher Brian Shaffer and catcher Michael Perez to Tampa Bay.
The team designated reliever Randall Delgado for assignment to open up a roster spot for Andriese upon the trade and on Aug. 18 re-signed Delgado to a minor league deal.
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