Geraldo Perdomo out of Diamondbacks’ lineup Tuesday with knee issue

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo was not in the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies after leaving Monday’s game with left knee soreness.

Ildemaro Vargas replaced Perdomo at shortstop, while outfielder Lars Nootbaar jumped into the lead-off spot.

Manager Torey Lovullo said he made the decision to give Perdomo a day off to rest his “banged up” knee despite the shortstop wanting to play.

“If I can give him one today, we’ll get him for the rest of the season. This is my mindset,” Lovullo said. “He could be available off the bench at some point. He’s still getting some work done in the training room. But overall, I feel like we’re in a good spot.”

Lovullo said Perdomo will be back in the lineup on Wednesday before the team’s off day on Thursday.

“Drop in one day in the middle of those two days and see how he feels, that’s my anticipation,” Lovullo said.

Perdomo and Lovullo said the former first dealt with the issue while running to first base on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was removed after four innings on Monday as the soreness continued.

The D-backs were ahead 7-0, and the lopsided score gave Arizona the opportunity to get him some rest.

Diamondbacks pitchers throw bullpens at Chase Field

Arizona starting pitchers Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen threw their next bullpens at Chase Field before Tuesday’s game, and Lovullo said they would probably throw again on Saturday.

Burnes (teres major strain) got up to 30 pitches and Gallen (right elbow inflammation) threw 33.

“I’m just giving you an overall snapshot, I have the right to change my mind on that, but I think they’re both going to be very close (to one another),” Lovullo said of their timelines. “They’re going to be laying on top of one another.”

Lovullo said Burnes has been pounding on the door to get back in late August, but the manager said Burnes would more likely be back shortly after September begins.

Speaking of pitchers working their way back, reliever Justin Martinez threw for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, delivering a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts. He will throw again on Thursday as he nears a return from Tommy John surgery.

Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reported that Martinez could be back for the Diamondbacks on Sunday in Atlanta or Monday in Boston.

Looks like Justin Martinez will get one or two more outings before returning to the Diamondbacks next week on the road. l would expect either the final game of the Atlanta series on Sunday or first of the Boston series Monday.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) August 11, 2026

Ryan Waldschmidt, the second lead-off hitter

D-backs rookie Ryan Waldschmidt has settled into the nine-hole of the lineup, hitting there in each of his last 15 starts entering Tuesday. During that time, he has hit .388 with a .997 OPS.

Any temptation to bump him up?

“He understands how important that part of the lineup is,” Lovullo said. “He’s, to me, an extra lead-off hitter. That’s how I look at it. … I just like how he can set it up for the top of the lineup. And he’s in a good spot right now. So I don’t want to juggle that.”

Lovullo had Perdomo be his “second lead-off man” for years, a role the shortstop performed very well to set the table.

Related

Diamondbacks need to jumpstart offene to salvage series win vs. RockiesDiamondbacks avoid post-Dodgers letdown, clobber Rockies in Soroka’s returnGeraldo Perdomo removed from Diamondbacks-Rockies game with knee sorenessJake McCarthy ‘getting back to what makes me good’ in resurgent season for RockiesDiamondbacks injury return tracker: Progress reports on Justin Martinez, Corbin BurnesDiamondbacks sign veteran pitcher Zack Littell. What will his role be?