The Arizona Diamondbacks continue to stack victories as they conclude a nine-game road trip with Wednesday’s series finale against the Chicago White Sox.
Trouble is, injuries are piling up, too.
Although Arizona defeated Chicago 4-1 on Tuesday to clinch a series victory and a winning trip, the Diamondbacks lost Ildemaro Vargas. The infielder was hit on the right foot by a pitch and suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal.
Third baseman Eugenio Suarez suffered a right-hand contusion after being hit by a pitch during Monday’s 10-0 rout. Manager Torey Lovullo said Suarez has “a ton of swelling,” which must subside before Suarez undergoes an MRI.
“Over the next couple of days, there’s going to be minimal chance that he plays in a game,” Lovullo said.
First baseman Josh Naylor (left shoulder soreness) also left Monday’s game but is expected to be in the lineup Wednesday. Arizona, which this week placed outfielder Corbin Carroll on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist fracture, is eyeing a sweep after securing its sixth straight series win against the White Sox.
Chicago has lost 11 of 13 and has the most losses in the American League with 55.
On Tuesday, the White Sox were limited to three hits but stayed afloat behind 5 1/3 strong innings from right-hander Mike Vasil. Arizona surged ahead with a three-run seventh inning that included RBI singles around a run-scoring sacrifice fly.
“We know there’s more that needs to happen for us to turn the corner and accelerate some things,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said. “Overall, I feel pretty good about things. When you look at a record like we have, you are not too happy about it by any stretch. But there are some positives that we can hang our hat on and continue to move forward.”
One bright spot? The occasional brilliance of a handful of young right-handers. Sean Burke, who gets the call Wednesday, has shined in spots but hopes to regroup from a shaky June to date.
Burke (3-7, 4.50 ERA) was 2-2 with a 2.73 ERA in six May appearances, including five starts. However, the rookie is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in three starts this month.
Burke took a no-decision against St. Louis in the opener of a Thursday doubleheader. He spaced two runs (one earned) and four hits in 5 1/3 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts — one shy of his career best.
Righty Zac Gallen (5-8, 5.60) will start for the Diamondbacks. Gallen picked up the victory Friday at Colorado despite allowing seven runs and 10 hits, including a pair of home runs, in five innings.
Gallen defeated the White Sox in his lone previous appearance against them. Pitching for the Miami Marlins as a rookie on July 24, 2019, he delivered seven shutout innings of two-hit ball with one walk, two hit batsmen and nine strikeouts.
Ketel Marte has homered in two straight games for Arizona. He’s batting .577 (15-for-26) with three home runs and nine RBIs in the past six games.
–Field Level Media
