Pirates at Diamondbacks live updates. Lovullo challenges his rotation
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The struggles of the Diamondbacks’ rotation prompted manager Torey Lovullo to hold a meeting with his five starters last weekend in Chicago.
“I let them know what was on my mind,” Lovullo said, describing it as a meeting that featured most of the dialogue going in one direction.
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The thrust of the message Lovullo wanted to send, he said, was to cut down on the number of walks the group has been issuing.
“Really the main theme was putting the ball on the plate,” Lovullo said. “Eliminate the walks. We talk about not compounding things by eliminating a free pass and making them hit their way on.”
Over the past 12 games entering Tuesday, May 5, Diamondbacks starters have logged a 10.10 ERA while averaging a shade over four innings per start. Each of the five starters has had at least one clunker during that stretch, with right-hander Merrill Kelly turning in three of them.
“We’ve got to be better,” Lovullo said. “We’ve challenged them. We told them they’re the right group. They’re experienced. They know exactly what they got to get to and in my opinion it’s a matter of time until they turn it around.”
Health updates on Jordan Lawlar, others
Outfielder Jordan Lawlar, who has been out since breaking his wrist April 2, is about two weeks away from being able to start swinging the bat, Lovullo said.
That means Lawlar is pointing toward a potential return roughly in early June, which is when he is eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list.
In other Diamondbacks injury updates, Lovullo said first baseman Pavin Smith could begin taking dry swings as soon as next week. Smith has been out since the first week of the season with an elbow issue that required surgery.
First baseman Carlos Santana, out with an adductor strain in his right leg, has played two games on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno.
Another first baseman, Tyler Locklear, who has been out since needing surgeries on both his elbow and shoulder last year, has been getting at-bats in the complex league and will shift to Reno later this week.
Pirates at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0, 3.03) vs. Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (1-3, 4.97)
At Chase Field: Rodriguez was not sharp last week in Milwaukee, issuing four walks and lasting only 4 2/3 innings, though he managed to allow only two runs. … After three dominant starts to open the season, he has been less impressive in his past three, posting a 6.14 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. … His change-up has been an excellent pitch for him this year, holding opposing hitters to a .216 average and just a .255 slugging. … Rodriguez has not faced the Pirates since 2023. … Chandler, a rookie getting his first chance as a full-time starter in the majors, hasn’t been able to find consistency yet, struggling to work deep into games and to throw consistent strikes. … He has one of the best fastballs in the league, a pitch that averages 98.6 mph. … He has a deep pitch mix beyond that, throwing a change-up, slider, sweeper and curveball.
Coming up
Wednesday, May 6: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (4-1, 4.70) vs. Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (4-2, 3.18).
Thursday, May 7: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (1-2, 4.45) vs. Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (3-1, 2.85).
Friday, May 8: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (1-3, 6.61) vs. Mets RHP Nolan McLean (1-2, 2.97).
What to know about the Pittsburgh Pirates
At 19-16, the Pirates are off to an encouraging start. Surprisingly, all five teams in the National League Central are over .500, so, unfortunately for them, the Pirates are once again a last-place team. They are coming off a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, whom they outscored 27-8 over the weekend. Newcomers 2B Brandon Lowe and RF Ryan O’Hearn, both brought in to help upgrade the offense, are off to encouraging starts with their new club. Lowe is hitting for more power (eight homers) while O’Hearn has the higher average (.308) and on-base (.393). Rookie SS Konnor Griffin enjoyed perhaps the best game of his young career over the weekend, going 4 for 5 with a double, triple and a walk May 2. The Pirates’ pitching has been solid, posting a 3.72 ERA, the fourth-best mark in the NL. They rank fourth in rotation ERA (3.74) and sixth in bullpen ERA (3.70). RHP Paul Skenes has been dominant in five of his seven outings. He allowed five runs in each of his other two, including a disastrous Opening Day start in which he failed to escape the first inning in part because his defense let him down.
(This story has been updated to add information.)
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pirates at Diamondbacks updates. Torey Lovullo challenges his rotation