Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Resting against southpaw
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Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
After returning from the injured list Monday, the left-handed-hitting Smith was included in the lineup for the first two games of the series while the Guardians sent right-handed starters to the hill. With southpaw Parker Messick toeing the rubber for Cleveland in the finale, Smith will give way to the right-handed-hitting Tyler Locklear at first base. The two players could end up forming a loose platoon at the position over the final few weeks of the season.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Hitless in return
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Smith started at first base and went 0-for-2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter in Monday's 3-1 loss to Cleveland.
Smith was activated off the injured list Monday and was in the lineup against a right-hander. He was eventually pinch hit for against a lefty reliever by the right-handed batting Tyler Locklear, who had served as the primary first baseman since the Diamondbacks traded Josh Naylor. The two could operate as a platoon at the cold corner while Arizona is nominally a competitor for the postseason. At some point, the organization may want to see if the 24-year-old Locklear is a long-term solution.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Reinstated from IL, starting Monday
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The Diamondbacks reinstated Smith (oblique) from the 10-day injured list, and he is starting at first base and batting fifth against the Guardians on Monday.
Smith has spent the last six weeks recovering from a right oblique strain that landed him on the 10-day IL in early July. He ended his rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno on a strong note, going 2-for-3 with two walks, two doubles and two runs scored in Saturday's contest. Smith will get the start at first base over Tyler Locklear on Monday, and the former could also work in rotation with Adrian Del Castillo at DH.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Plays defense on rehab assignment
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Smith (oblique) started at first base in the first two games of his rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno, going 2-for-8 with a double and a run scored.
Smith was on the field Tuesday for seven innings and Wednesday for eight innings before getting a day off Thursday. He could be activated ahead of the Diamondbacks' next homestand, which begins Monday, but it's unclear what role Smith will have for a team that's punted on the 2025 season. Tyler Locklear, who was acquired from Seattle in the Eugenio Suarez deal, has been the primary first baseman since joining Arizona. As for DH, the Diamondbacks are giving prospect Adrian Del Castillo, a lefty batter like Smith, a long look there.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Ready for rehab assignment
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Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said that Smith (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Smith had been taking live at-bats in simulated games at the organization's training facility in Arizona and is now ready to test himself in an uncontrolled game setting. According to Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com, Lovullo said that he's hopeful Smith will be ready to return from the 10-day injured list during the Diamondbacks' next homestand, which begins Aug. 18. Once he's activated, Smith should reclaim a near-everyday role at either first base or designated hitter after he posted an .817 OPS in 264 plate appearances prior to landing on the shelf July 6 due to a right oblique strain.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Cleared for live batting practice
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Smith (oblique) will take live batting practice Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Smith has been shelved since July 6 due to a right oblique strain but is set to take a notable step forward Tuesday. If he emerges from Tuesday's baseball activities without suffering any type of setback, the team could get him live at-bats during a minor-league game Thursday, per Weiner.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: In line for first base
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Smith (oblique) could become the primary starter at first base after the Diamondbacks traded Josh Naylor to the Mariners on Thursday, Manny Randhawa of MLB.com reports.
Smith first needs to get over his oblique injury. He recently began taking dry swings, but it's unclear when he'll be ready to rejoin Arizona. Rather than seeing an everyday role, he may work on the strong side of a platoon upon his return -- he has just 17 at-bats against lefties in 2025. While Smith remains sidelined, Tristin English will likely see most of the action at first base.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Taking dry swings
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Smith (oblique) was recently cleared to resume taking dry swings, MLB.com reports.
Smith is a little more than two weeks removed from landing on the 10-day injured list due to a right oblique strain and is at the beginning stages of a hitting progression. A timetable for Smith's return to the Diamondbacks' active roster should be available soon as he reaches the point that he's facing live pitching.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Out with oblique strain
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The Diamondbacks placed Smith on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a right oblique strain.
Smith presumably suffered the injury in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Royals, as he went 0-for-1 with two walks and two runs before being replaced by a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. The 29-year-old will be eligible to be reinstated coming out of the All-Star break, but a longer absence wouldn't be surprising, given the nature of the injury.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Drives in two in loss
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Smith went 1-for-5 with two RBI in Friday's 9-8 loss to Miami.
Smith drew the Diamondbacks closer with a two-run single in the ninth inning, but the comeback stalled there. He's lifted his run production of late, knocking in 10 runs over the last eight games. That's a greater number of RBI than he had in the entire months of May/April or May. For the season, Smith has 27 RBI across 73 contests.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Starts at first base
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Smith started at first base and went 1-for-4 in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the White Sox.
Smith got the nod at first when Josh Naylor (shoulder) was scratched. The latter suffered a shoulder injury on an aggressive swing during Monday's game and was eventually removed from that contest. The fact he was nearly ready to play Tuesday suggests Naylor could start Wednesday. In that event, Smith would likely move back to designated hitter with Arizona set to face Chicago right-hander Sean Burke.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Goes yard twice
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Smith went 2-for-4 with two homers, four RBI and a walk in Monday's 10-0 victory over the White Sox.
Smith extended Arizona's lead to 5-0 with a three-run long ball off Chicago starter Shane Smith in the second inning. The 29-year-old wasn't finished, as he returned to launch a 416-foot solo shot in the fourth off reliever Dan Altavilla to collect his second career multi-homer game. This pair of blasts is a welcome sight for Smith since he entered the contest with a .158/.340/.316 slash line across 50 plate appearances in June.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Drives in three runs
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Smith went 1-for-2 with two walks, a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly in Thursday's 9-5 win over the Blue Jays.
Smith clobbered his sixth home run of the season in the fifth inning off Kevin Gausman before extending the Diamondbacks' lead in in the sixth on a sac fly. Smith's .274 batting average this year would be a career best, but he has struggled at the plate in June with a .194/.381/.387 slash line, one steal, two home runs, five RBI and a 31.0 percent strikeout rate in 42 plate appearances this month.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Hitting above xBA
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Smith went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to Toronto.
Smith put Arizona on the board with a two-out, run-scoring single in the fourth inning. He's been largely unproductive since the middle of April, as the lefty hitter is batting .210 (25-for-119) with just nine RBI over the last 44 contests dating back to April 23. By the grace of a .406 BABIP, Smith has managed to bat .271 for the season, far outpacing a .223 expected batting average.
Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Arizona is facing a left-handed starting pitcher (Eric Lauer) for the first time since June 6, so Smith will retreat to the bench along with fellow left-handed-hitting regular Alek Thomas. Randal Grichuk will step in at designated hitter in place of Smith, who hit .200 with one home run and two RBI while starting each of the last nine games.
Smith went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-2 win over Seattle.
Smith finished off the Diamondbacks' five-run sixth inning with his fifth homer of the season. It was the first round-tripper in 40 games (since April 22) for Smith, who incidentally is slashing .213/.336/.296 over 128 plate appearances since his last home run. He still maintains a .277 batting average thanks to a .402 BABIP, but Statcast pegs his expected batting average to be .225.
Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Delivers two runs in loss
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Smith started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a triple, two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 11-7 loss to Washington.
Smith plated two runs with a triple as part of Arizona's five-run sixth inning that made a potential blowout somewhat interesting. It was the second straight game with multiple RBI for Smith, who has knocked in five over the last five contests. He has just 16 RBI through 53 games after driving in 36 over 60 games a season ago.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Delivers run in loss
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Smith went 2-for-3 with an RBI in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals.
Smith gave Arizona a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning when he singled in a run. The RBI was his third over the last 27 games, a stretch during which Smith has just three extra-base hits, batted .227 (17-for-75) and struck out at a 30.7 percent clip. As the strongside of a platoon at DH, he has a respectable .301 batting average and an .892 OPS, but there's very little heft to it. Smith, who spent a good portion of the season batting third, has just 12 RBI and can thank an outrageous BABIP (.439) for what Statcast estimates to be a .229 expected batting average.
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