Gabriel Moreno’s early exit Friday created a concern for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but Torey Lovullo quickly provided a positive update.
Moreno left Arizona’s 11-4 win over the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning with what Lovullo described as a tender left hamstring. The catcher had already gone 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored before leaving the game.
However, Lovullo said Moreno is expected to be in the lineup Saturday as the designated hitter. That would allow the Diamondbacks to keep his bat available while limiting the amount of work required from his hamstring.
The timing matters for Arizona. Friday’s victory was the Diamondbacks’ sixth straight win and moved them within one game of the Phillies for the National League’s final Wild Card spot with two games remaining.
Moreno has been one of Arizona’s most productive hitters this season. MLB lists him at a .310 average, .387 on-base percentage and .484 slugging percentage, with 15 home runs, 33 doubles and 78 RBI.
His recent production has been even stronger. Moreno entered Saturday with a .368 average and .455 on-base percentage over his previous 15 games, according to MLB.
That makes keeping his bat in the lineup particularly important as Arizona tries to extend its season. At the same time, the Diamondbacks need to avoid turning a tender hamstring into a more serious problem with only two regular-season games remaining.
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Lovullo’s decision gives Moreno a chance to contribute without immediately putting him back behind the plate. James McCann is expected to handle the catching duties while Moreno serves as the DH.
For Arizona, Saturday’s lineup will provide the first indication of how Moreno’s hamstring responds. For now, though, the Diamondbacks have avoided the worst-case scenario and still have their catcher’s bat available for the stretch run.
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