D-backs’ manager Lovullo updates several injuries, Bradley’s usage

Amid a six-game losing streak, the Arizona Diamondbacks have suffered some key injuries that have affected the team on the field.

Aspiring All-Star Ketel Marte was injured on Friday’s 11-5 loss to the Giants and missed Saturday’s game, another D-backs loss.

He will be available off the bench on Sunday as the D-backs look to get back in the win column.

“Ketel is good,” manager Torey Lovullo said before the game on Sunday. “He said he was ready and he was eager to play. But I decided that the best thing would be to just use him off the bench today, if needed, and gear him up for the series starting tomorrow.”

The manager also issued updates on three players on IL.

Wilmer Flores, Luke Weaver and Taijuan Walker are all waiting to make the next step in rehab. Flores and Weaver are waiting to have scans done to determine the next step.

While Flores has began to work on some conditioning and in the batting cage, following his foot injury suffered back in mid-May.

Weaver has not began throwing yet and will have a follow-up next week to see how the tightness in his forearm has been progressing.

Walker, who suffered a setback in mid-May in his recovery from Tommy John surgery in April 2018, still has some inflammation in his forearm that has prevented the starting pitcher to resume throwing.

Corner infielder Jake Lamb, however, could be back in the big leagues soon. He played his third game in a row for Triple-A Reno. Sunday was a scheduled off day for Lamb.

“His days, we know, are getting very, very close. We just want to make sure that, once again, if we do it now he’s going to be healthy and he’s not going to turn back,” Lovullo said. “He’s in a good spot.”

Equal treatment

Don’t expect an EEOC claim from D-backs pitcher Archie Bradley.

Lovullo said that despite the pitcher’s recent struggles, the team plans to continue to use the former No. 7 overall pick in situations where he can have the most success.

“I try to treat everybody the same and use them the same way and not try to force situations for one person above the team. But every once and awhile I’ll try to insert different guys in there to build some confidence,” Lovullo said.

Bradley posted his best season in 2017 with a 1.73 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. This year the 26-year-old has a 5.66 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP. Lovullo doesn’t believe 2017 was a fluke.

“I believe in Archie, he’s been really, really good and that wasn’t by accident,” Lovullo added. “But he’s got to keep growing and learning, getting better, so he finds himself in those meaningful games that he wants to be in.”

On Saturday, Bradley came in with a one-run deficit in the ninth inning and gave up a two-run homer to Mike Yastrzemski.

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