Lourdes

Gurriel Jr.

Gurriel gave the D-Backs a 5-4 lead with his solo homer. in his first game back from the injured list. He also singled and walked, so there didn’t appear to be much rust in the 30-year-old’s bat. Arizona may manage Gurriel’s at-bats to make sure he stays healthy, but more often than not he’s going to be right around the middle of a solid lineup.

It’s just the second time in six weeks that McCarthy has gotten a day off. We doubt this will turn into a regular thing in the final week, but the Diamondbacks have to find ways to keep Pavin Smith in the lineup against righties. It just probably makes more sense to sit Gurriel than it does to weaken the outfield defense by sliding Corbin Carroll to center and playing Gurriel and Smith in the corners.

Gurriel Jr. has been out since the beginning of September with a left calf strain. Pavin Smith has been covering Gurriel Jr.'s spot in left field while he’s been out. Smith is likely to see a decrease in playing time as Jake McCarthy, Corbin Carroll and Christian Walker are already entrenched at the other positions Smith plays.

Gurriel has missed 11 days with a calf strain. Barring a setback, he should return next week. Pavin Smith will likely do a lot more sitting once Gurriel is activated.

Gurriel winds up landing on the shelf just a couple days after leaving Sunday’s contest against the Dodgers with calf tightness. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo expressed optimism that it’ll only be a minimum stint on the injured list for the 30-year-old corner outfielder.

Gurriel exited Sunday’s game against the Dodgers with tightness in his left calf, and unsurprisingly is not available for Monday’s contest. The outfielder is considered day-to-day, and Pavin Smith gets the start in left field while Gurriel recovers.

While Diamondbacks’ skipper Torey Lovullo told reporters that Gurriel is considered day-to-day, he also said that the 30-year-old outfielder will undergo an MRI exam to determine the severity of the injury. Fantasy managers should have a contingency option in place in the event that Gurriel is unable to go next week.

The 30-year-old slugger limped down the line as he grounded into a double play in the sixth inning and immediately retreated to the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse. He’ll undergo further evaluation. Expect the Diamondbacks to provide more information on his status as soon as more information becomes available.

Gurriel tied the game with both of his run-scoring hits. He hit a two-run double in the first to tie the game at 3-3, and he evened the score at 5-5 with a solo homer in the third. The 30-year-old is now up to 70 RBI, 17 homers and a .748 OPS.

Gurriel will get a day of rest for the series finale. Pavin Smith is starting in left field and hitting fifth against Tanner Houck and the Red Sox.